Sustainable Labor Day Activities for the Whole Family

Labor Day Weekend is the unofficial end of summer which means it's the last chance to swim, hike, and otherwise enjoy the outdoors before school starts.

If you're looking for some fresh ways to make the most of Labor Day weekend without adding to your carbon footprint, we have a few ideas. These sustainable outdoor activities keep the kids entertained, but they're also a blast for parents. Best of all, they teach the values of environmental stewardship and responsibility that you'll also find at the core of the American labor movement. After all, that's what the holiday is all about!

1. Start an indoor mini-garden with this surprising, all-natural planter.

   Garden season is coming to an end, but a mini Egg Head Garden will let you enjoy fresh green growth in indoor planters! These cute tiny gardens are made from egg shells, which are a lot greener than plastic pots. The kids will love drawing their own cute faces on their Egg Heads and watching their green-grass "hair" growing all winter long.

   Find full directions here.

2. Organize a creepy-crawly scavenger hunt.

   Not everyone can pack up for a camping trip on Labor Day Weekend. The good news is that there's plenty of nature in your own backyard.

   An insect scavenger hunt is a great way to get in touch with your hyperlocal biome. Send the kids out with magnifying glasses and lists of bugs to see who can spot them all first!

   Download a printable checklist of bugs here.

3. Visit the nearest state park.

   It doesn't cost anything to take a hike, and with more than 18 million acres of national parkland in the U.S., you won't have any problems finding a place to go.

   Learn more about America's state parks here.

4. Make your old clothes into a stack of paperless napkins.

   Barbecues are an important part of the Labor Day tradition, and, as we all know, the food can get messy. Keep your face clean without creating waste by transforming a stack of used textiles into simple and adorable cloth napkins.

   Find this no-sew tutorial here.

5. Three words: Solar oven s'mores!

   Harness the power of the sun to cook up the greatest outdoor dessert of them all! Solar ovens bake s'mores to perfection without burning fossil fuels, and they're simple enough to build. Grab some aluminum foil and a shoe box and start cooking with solar!

   Get directions here.

No matter what you and your family do this Labor Day Weekend, have fun, be safe, and stay green!