Be Eco-Friendly: Plan a Stay-Cation @ Home!

Be Eco-Friendly: Plan a Stay-Cation @ Home! Here is a vacation idea that won’t break the bank. It will give your family many fond memories and that well-deserved rest AND will keep you eco-friendly (get more tips and join the movement on being eco-friendly at www.ecofriendlymovement.com). Especially in these times of high gas prices…Take a "Staycation"

You say "What in the world is a Staycation?" Well, very simply it is a vacation where you stay home, you do all the fun things that you don’t have time to do while you are working or going to school, AND you’ll have fun doing it right in your home or in your local area. Staycations are very eco-friendly because you are limiting your use of precious fuel by not traveling to a destination; your home is your destination. You will also see Eco-tips mentioned throughout this article.

Okay, are you ready to have fun! Here are the steps you need to take:

As with any "traditional" vacation, you need to plan and make some decisions before you "embark" on your trip. REMEMBER—The planning and anticipation of the trip is part of the fun.

PLANNING AND PREPARATION PHASE:

- Coordinate calendars

- Decide when you will all be available

- Who you will invite (other than immediate family); don’t forget to ask Grandma, Grandpa or that favorite aunt to join you on your Staycation. Be sure to mention that this is a staycation and fun times only…no worries or problems discussed.

- How long will your "trip" last?

- Choose a trip coordinator to be responsible for ascertaining from the family what activities/ideas they would most like to see happen during the staycation and this person is responsible for setting the daily planned activities (see below). TIP: In our family Mom or Grandma is the coordinator.

1. Delve into interests of each staycation member and form activities around that interest…take turns with each member…this will also get everyone thinking about each other and sharing each others interests.

2. Play tourist and go to your Chamber of Commerce or Convention and Visitors Bureau. Pick up brochures, maps, or anything that will get you thinking about "short trips" in your area. You will be surprised at the places you didn’t know about, right in your own back yard. Don’t forget to go on-line and learn about your town, city, or state and see what you can see (It doesn’t hurt to slip in a few educational items; along with the fun…nobody will know the difference if you do it correctly).

3. Produce a planned activities calendar and post it in your staycation home (see below for Planned Activities Ideas). This will let every staycation member know what’s going to happen during the staycation. Remember no stress…if someone wants to suggest changes or has some other fun things to add to the schedule…that’s what you want to see…PARTICIPATION!

4. Plan downtime in the activities calendar. This is time when everyone can do their own thing; like hide it their rooms, go on-line, nap, or just plain do nothing. Every vacation needs a certain amount of downtime. TIP: Remember to schedule this time, but if someone is not feeling well, don’t stress just let them have a bit more time. They will come around when they feel they are missing out on some laughs. Also remember it is like a vacation, so get up late and stay up late.

5. Planned Activities are fun to create specifically geared toward your staycation members. Here are some ideas that have been successful:

6. Visit museums, aquariums, historical sites, or any places of interest in your area. Most of these places are free, fun, and educational. Don’t forget even libraries can be fun places to visit. No matter how small your town is you can ALWAYS find something to see that is interesting.

7. Visit any national parks, state parks, town parks or even school ball fields. Getting outside is the best way to have fun and be healthy at the same time. It’s a great place to have a picnic, play ball, swim, hike, walk, and fish or just plain read a book under a tree. Eco-tip: Remember to not pollute; whatever you take with you, bring home with you and dispose of probably.

8. Visit your own backyard. You can have a bunch of fun right in your own backyard. Have a cook-out, invite people over (remember to have every member of the staycation invite a friend), cook ‘smores, tell ghost stories, do star-gazing astronomy, arrange a scavenger hunt, run a drive-in (outdoor) movie (you can put blankets on the grass, bring your biggest TV/DVD outdoors, rent a family-friendly movie or pay-per-view event, serve popcorn and let the fun begin.

9. Plant a tree in your yard, have a dedication ceremony, invite the neighborhood (maybe they’ll get the idea and will want help the environment by planting their own tree). This is a big Eco-Tip!

10. Hold game night, every night. You can play cards, board games, build jigsaw puzzles, charades, interactive electronic games, movie night, scavenger hunts or you could go to a local arcade or movie theatre. This is one that you try to get everyone to participate in, the more the merrier. TIP: Some families do this kind of activity at least once a week; even when it isn’t a staycation.

11. Run a Talent Night, if your family is so inclined to be performers or possess any special talents. This is a great way to have a lot of laughs (Remember to laugh with someone not at someone, haha!).

12. Join an organization as a family and donate your time and effort to helping the "cause". With this staycation article you are already well on your way to becoming environmentally eco-friendly so why not join the eco-friendly movement as a family by going to www.ecofriendlymovement.com you can join and learn all the ways your family can begin to SAVE THE PLANET. Another Big Eco-tip!

13. Get out the old family photos and remember the good times. Tell stories about people, events, remember people you have lost, remember the "good times", somebody draw a big tree and start your family tree. Also remember to take plenty of candid and planned digital pictures of your current staycation. You are, after all making new memories. You could also take this opportunity to do some scrapbooking, depending on the interest level from the staycation members; this could be a lot of fun. Some staycationers have even gone to cemeteries to trace genealogies, AND they had fun doing it. Eco-tip: Remember save paper and take digital photos and create computer generated photo albums.

14. Do a Spa Day for the girls (or anyone who wants to join in). You could go to a local spa or plan spa treatments for at home; like manicures, pedicures, or back rubs. Eco-tip: Remember you can make all natural organic products (see the free bonus books on the webpage www.ecofriendlymovement.com)

15. Do a Sports Day for the boys (or anyone who wants to join in). The boys could go to a driving range, batting cage, rent a sports DVD, etc.

16. Do some Arts & Crafts finish those projects you have had forever or just start new projects with the entire family. Even if you are not crafty try painting or even coloring, its fun. Eco-tip: Use items you already have around the house…reuse items for crafts.

17. Take a walk, run, or jog family-style. Have an "adventure", depending on the age of your children it is great fun to make-pretend on your adventure. Eco-tip: While you are walking pick up trash along the street!

Theme Staycations are loads of fun. You can plan for the entire length of your vacation as a theme or just a Theme Day. Here are some theme staycations that could fit into your plans:

- Outdoor Adventure-Try this one whether your family has camped outside or not. It involves sleeping, cooking, and eating outside. This activity is great fun for all ages.

- Tropical Island-You don’t even need to be near the beach. Dress in island wear; shorts, flowered Hawaiian shirts, flip-flops, drink tropical concoctions, and lay around reading books. Remember to make the food island appropriate-usually grilled.

- Sports Theme-This can be themed with your local team colors, your favorite NFL, NBA, MLB, NASCAR, or whatever sport. You can dress for your team, decorate for your team, and have a tailgate party (even in your driveway). TIP: If you are into NASCAR, you can have matchbox races.

Food preparation menu:

Develop meal and snack menus for each day of the vacation.
(Remember no dieting, splurge on foods that make your family happy, comfort foods are great). When it comes time to prepare the foods, it’s Mom’s vacation too, so all pitch-in to help, take turns cooking, and most of all prepare easy clean-up meals. Don’t forget grilling, grilling, grilling is fun and easy clean-up.

Make reservations at local restaurants. This is your chance to try out that local place down the street that you go by everyday and "just haven’t had time to stop to try out". You can also do take out meals, anything that is fun and makes it an easy part of the staycation.

Make grocery list and food shop in advance of staycation. Except for some pick-up items like milk or bread, have all the food purchased well ahead of the start of your Staycation. Eco-tip: Bring reusable grocery shopping bags.

STAYCATION DATE ARRIVES:

#1 Have FUN, FUN, & MORE FUN with the family, tell jokes, laugh a lot, and be silly.
#2 Play music all day and create a fun atmosphere.
#3 Follow the planned activities calendar as closely as possible (but do no stress over it).
#4 Take loads of digital pictures-candid and staged.
#5 Eat too much food and diet after the vacation.
#6 Send postcards, letter, or emails to friends telling them about how much fun you are having on your staycation (you may inspire them to go on Staycation). Always use recycled paper.
#7 Remember both during this Staycation and in your daily life to reuse, recycle, reduce, and to limit your footprint on the planet. Visit www.ecofriendlymovement.com so you can begin your eco-friendly quest like so many other families have done.