14 DAY TRIAL // The ‘Pennies for the Planet’ campaign destined to to protect wildlife and habitat while teaching kids how to be more environmentally conscious launched today with the help of Audubon and Toyota.
Kids of all ages will earn about and become engaged in protecting biodiversity, while raising funds and conducting environmental projects in their own communities.
The group that raises the most funds (postmarked by the May 5, 2012 deadline) will be awarded an Audubon BioBash, a fun environmental educational assembly led by Audubon educators.
Last year, the largest donation came from the Hermitage School District in Hermitage, Pennsylvania, which raised over 163,470 pennies.
"Kids are our future conservationists," said Audubon President David Yarnold. "This program gives young people a chance to learn more and be empowered by seeing results from their actions. We hope that this year's conservation projects inspire them to get involved and realize that they can make a meaningful difference in protecting our planet."
Donations will be collected until August 31, 2012, and will be divided equally among the following three conservation projects spanning from the Atlantic to the Arctic Oceans:
• Restore Texas' one-of-a-kind Sabal Palm Forest by replacing invasive plants with native species, providing necessary habitat for local wildlife such as ocelots, buff-bellied hummingbirds, and green jays. The forest is home to many species of plants and animals that do not occur elsewhere in the U.S.
• Preserve North Carolina's Lea-Hutaff Barrier Island by protecting habitat for the island's threatened and endangered species. These islands provide a natural protection from extreme weather and play host to a variety of species, including beach nesting birds such as piping plovers and least terns, as well as the endangered loggerhead sea turtle.
• Protect the Alaskan Arctic Ocean by supporting scientists working to learn more about the Beaufort and Chukchi seas and the unique species that call this remote area home, including whales, ivory gulls, eiders, and polar bears.