Looking for "crunchy" party ideas

[odentonmom]

Ladies,

I am the Committee Chair for my older boys Cub Scout Pack. I suggested that for this year's Blue & Gold Banquet, we do the theme "Leave No Trace." I would like to do everything as environmentally friendly as possible. The rest of the committee agreed. So, I am coming to you crunchy mamas looking for more ideas that I can incorporate. Keep in mind, I am the only CDing mama in the crowd. So, the families are all pretty mainstream. These ideas need to be relatively cheap and easily implemented for this group.

Here is what I am thinking so far:
-Ask local newspaper to donate their blank newsprint end rolls (that they usually toss) and use that to cover the tables instead of plastic tablecloths. I will put out crayons (recycled from the ones we get when we go to restaurants) and let the boys color and do tic-tac-toe, etc.

-Instead of making decorations and centerpieces from purchased craft supplies, we will make them from recycled materials (paper towel tubes, newspaper, bottles, etc.)... junk sculptures.

-We are going to have a no utensil menu. Everything needs to be finger foods.

-We are going to use recycled paper napkins and those disposable plates made out of like corn or something like that (I saw them at Target.)

So...
Do you think it is okay to still have latex helium filled balloons or not?
If not, what is another festive alternative?
What else can you think of to add to the theme?

[Namaste]

I'm moving this to Green Families as they will have some great ideas, I'm sure!

[odentonmom]

OK. Thanks. :goodvibes:

[sydney]

I think it is a great idea and all your ideas sound great as well. Maybe you could plant a tree or give out info on ways to be greener.

[Dire Wolf]

Use organic foods. Give out pamphlets on composting and recycling. Put out recycle bins at the event. But it sounds like you have pretty much covered everything I wa thinking of.:thumbsup:

[tommymommy]

Ohhhh, let me think about this!!!! We practice leave no trace backpacking!

What a neat party idea!

Is the party indoors or outside?

[tommymommy]

Okay,

I would pass on the balloons......and do lighted plants in pots at the entrance. Actually I would put a lot of the decor focus on greenery. Maybe see what sort of recycled containers you could put clippings into for center pieces.

Are the boys going to make a banner or anything? I'd make two big ones (in blue and gold) The first would say "Take only pictures" and the second would say "Leave only footprints" and hang them close to each other. Or make one big one. I think that is the LNT associations official motto, if I'm not mistaken.

And if they are doing a skit, here are the core principals: http://www.lnt.org/programs/principles.php

Have fun!!!!

[Momoftwo]

If you do use balloons buy the biodegradable ones and use biodegradable trash bags. It sounds like you are doing a great job. Thanks for loving our world.

[odentonmom]

Ohhhh, let me think about this!!!! We practice leave no trace backpacking!

What a neat party idea!

Is the party indoors or outside?

It will be inside.

Another idea... I was thinking of taking the plain newsprint and cutting it into strips to hang from the entrance. You know, like the plastic or ribbon door decorations? Kind of like a car wash. Before we hang it up, the scouts can write things on it like: Reduce, Reuse, Recycle, Leave No Trace, etc...

It is a little bit of a challenge to be festive w/o being wasteful.

[odentonmom]

Thanks for the ideas. I definitely will have recycle bins there to use and to decorate. :goodvibes:

I have never heard of biodegradable balloons. I am going to google that right now!

I am debating how much natural items I should include for decor. I was thinking that for decor it would only be okay to use things that have fallen to the ground (pine cones, leaves, sticks, etc.) What do you think?

I am pretty excited about it.

[odentonmom]

I just found this about balloons:
"Latex balloons are sometimes confused with plastic items and lumped in with the plastics litter problem. The oft-used phrase, “latex balloons and other plastics” is improper. Latex is not a plastic. It’s organic, made from the sap of rubber trees collected through an absolutely harmless tapping process very simple to that used for collecting the maple sap used for making syrup.

Moreover, latex balloons are totally biodegradable — the only type of balloon used in a professionally-produced mass release. A latex balloon’s molecular structure begins breaking down with inflation and gathers momentum when exposed to sunlight and the atmosphere. Within three hours, most latex balloons released into the atmosphere rise to approximately five miles, begin to oxidize, freeze and shatter into spaghetti-like pieces. Once on the ground gases and microorganisms attack the latex, continuing the natural decomposition process — even in the dark."


Anyone heard of this or any information that contradicts this? I am not planning to release the balloons, but if all latex ones are biodegradable then I would get a few to decorate. I suppose I would use string instead of ribbon to tie them.

[Dire Wolf]

I dunno, I went to the sea turtle reasue in Key West a few years ago and they said the only ballons that were bad are the mylar ones. So if it that's true then, I would say go for it!! What kind of foods are there going to be? If stuff needs to be heated, you could use a propane grill as it is in the alternative fuel list. What about recycled cloth gift bags? That could even be sheets from the thrift store made into bags with twine. I can give you instructions to no-sew treat bags if you need them. :goodvibes: If you can get on to the MDC forums, there are quite a few good ideas there. I forgot my password :blush: