Make Your Valentine Beary Happy
/ Post by Katie Billing of Polar Bears International
Every year Valentine’s Day rolls around and sweethearts around the world are showered with love. How about switching up this Valentine’s Day with creative ideas and a mindset to help out bears? Below is a list of 10 ways to celebrate love by giving bears a little love too.
1. Buy local Flowers: Instead of purchasing flowers from the grocery store, try to find a local flower shop that grows the flowers in a greenhouse. Buying local helps eliminate the carbon dioxide emissions lost during shipping.
2. Buy Organic Chocolate: Who doesn’t love chocolate? This Valentine’s Day purchase some organic chocolate to support fair trade companies. You can also buy Endangered Species brand chocolate and have some money donated to wildlife causes. Polar Bears International also sells polar bear-shaped chocolates on their website.
3. Have a “Green” Date: Change up your date night plans with a night at home! Create a romantic dinner in your own household instead of heading out and spending money on gas.
4. Homemade gifts: There are many options out there to create romantic gifts for your sweetheart. Try your hand at knitting, make a scrapbook, carving or woodwork, and just get creative!
5. Recycle Cards: Save up old Valentines, Birthday, and Christmas cards to re-use! Cut out the pictures and make your own creative sayings. This crafty method saves money and trees!
6. Make Organic Cookies: Bake some cookies using organic recipes! Find books at your local library and try out new recipes (This also works as a dinner option.)
7. Send her/him a Stuffed Polar Bear from PBI: Skip the teddy from the dollar store and adopt a polar bear for your loved one! Check out the Polar Bears International website to find the various adoption options! WWF and your local zoo may also offer some polar bear adoption packages.
8. Go to your local zoo for a date and teach them about polar bears: Have a wild date at your local zoo! Show your date all of the cool animals this world has and sneak in some conversation on conservation! Make sure to check out the bear exhibits!
9. Want to splurge? Go on an Eco-trip to Canada: Surprise your special friend with a trip! Many companies and organizations have planned eco-tours of the great bears in America and Canada! Check online for Frontiers North trip options or check out the National Wildlife Foundation’s upcoming Grizzly Bear Experience! This is an expensive gift but it provides amazing experiences!
10. Be a Care Bear! Donate to PBI: Already spent money on a gift? Already have Valentine’s Day Plans? Perhaps you are celebrating Anti-Valentine’s Day? No matter what you are doing Feb.14 you have the option to be a care bear and donate to the polar bears! These bears may not have a voice, but they do have big hearts and will appreciate your efforts to protect them.
