As much as we love to get out on the land to hike, look for critters, and enjoy the nature around us, some days we have to stay inside. On those days, get involved with the Conservancy online! Help hikers find their way in the Pinhook Preserve Maze, find wildflowers in the Catawba Wildflower Glen Wordhunt, and color land and creatures from all parts of NC!

Keep checking back often, we’ll be adding more fun, games, and interesting tidbits!

• Catawba Wildflower Glen Wordhunt
• Hike through the Pinhook Preserve Maze
• North Carolina animals coloring book
• North Carolina plants coloring book
• North Carolina landscapes coloring book
• Make your own recycled paper

Kermit the Frog once said, “It’s not easy being green.” Well, maybe not for a frog, but Catawba Lands Conservancy suggests 10 easy ways “to go green!”

1. This little baggie went to market: Bring your own bags to the market! An average American family acquires 60 plastic bags per week and rarely reuses them. In the US, about 12 million barrels of oil and 14 million trees go to producing plastic and paper bags each year, carry your own bags to minimize environmental impact.
2. Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle: Before throwing something away, always check for the recyclable symbol. Buy products made with post-consumer products, Catawba Lands Conservancy uses at least 30% post-consumer recycled fiber paper.
3. Lighten up: Use energy efficient light bulbs—compact fluorescent light bulbs use at least 2/3 less energy than standard incandescent bulbs to provide the same amount of light, and last up to 10 times longer!
4. Adjust your thermostat: By moving your thermostat down by just 2 degrees in the winter and up 2 degrees in the summer, the average household will reduce their carbon dioxide emissions.
5. Use your off switch: Turn off electronic devices, lights, and appliances when you are not using them, computers and stereos in “hibernation” mode still use energy.
6. Get dirty: Plant a tree—a single tree will absorb approximately 1 ton of carbon dioxide during its lifetime!
7. Take your foot off the gas: Carpooling and using public transportation reduces emissions.
8. Recharge your batteries: Using rechargeable batteries keeps dangerous toxins out of our landfills.
9. Buy local foods: A typical carrot has to travel 1,838 miles to reach your dinner table. Buying goods produced locally saves energy by reducing the fossil fuels needed to transport food and other items across the country and around the globe.
10. Filter your water: Rather than buying expensive bottled water, buy a filter for your tap. Bottled water creates a huge amount of container waste.