Courtsey of Philippe Cousteau Jr.

considered. It also engages them in a lan-
guage they already understand! Technology
is often demonized but it can also empower
kids in a positive way by sharing their expe-
riences and discoveries and connecting them
to the bigger picture with a bigger purpose.

Help children understand
the bigger picture.

Start with basic resources and practices
that touch our lives every day. Connect
the dots for a child about how local bodies
of water make much of our daily lives pos-
sible, from cooking food to brushing our
teeth. Or how reusable shopping bags can
help save their favorite marine animal.

Even the smallest journey can spark
exploration and discovery that’s transfor-
mative. A great example of this is plastic
drinking straws, representative of the plas-
tic trash problem. While a child may not
have much control over their daily lives,
they can say, “No, thank you,” to a sin-
gle-use plastic straw. This empowers them
to make a difference and influence those
around them to do the same.

Simple actions and a sense of purpose can
help form a young person’s view of how they
can change the world for the better. When
young people believe that everything they
do makes a difference in the world, they can
become a tremendous force for change.

Encourage action.

I have a simple mantra that guides our
work: Awareness does not lead to action,
action leads to awareness.

Whether it’s a small step in your house-
hold or participation in global programs
like EarthEcho’s Youth Leadership Council,
empowering kids to take part in solu-
tions fuels a sense of pride that can inspire
a child for a lifetime. Tapping into your
child’s inherent curiosity with activities
that are accessible and that deliver tangible
results are excellent starting points.

Through programs like the EarthEcho
Water Challenge, we’ve seen simple actions
create a sense of accomplishment and con-
nection. Each year, young people get outside
on local waterways to test and record simple
data on their community water quality. It’s
common to see a group of young people’s
faces light up as they huddle at the side of a
creek reading the real-time results of a sim-
ple water monitoring test. They are doing
science. They are connected. They are mak-
ing a difference.

Action doesn’t have to be complicated,
it just needs to be part of the equation.

That’s how we tap into the inner problem
solver in every child.

Today’s youth understand far more about
the state of our planet than we might think.

They are determined to create a different
relationship with the natural world that
focuses on solutions, not excuses. As par-
ents, mentors, educators and community
leaders, we can help them on their journey. ■
Philippe Cousteau Jr. is co-founder of the youth
leadership nonprofit EarthEcho International.

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