Polar Bear Night

/ Post by Katie Billing of Polar Bears International

Above photograph: The igloo I helped build during winter 2010 (Photography Credit: Devin Propp)

Around winter it is always nice to spend time with your loved ones and celebrate the holiday cheer. This post is about how to have a “date” while cutting down the cost and the green house gases! This date works well with friends, family, and significant others.

Your date can begin to cut down green house gas emissions if you keep your cars in the garage! Ask your date to find public transportation that can reach your place. Walking is also an option if you live close by! (Put those snow boots to use!) Taking public transport or walking can be a very exciting adventure on its own. Perhaps people on the train are singing Christmas carols or a walk becomes a scenic route with decorated houses. This perk gives you something to talk about when you meet up with your date.

Once you meet up, you can begin a BEARY special date. The date can begin with a walk to admire the winter atmosphere. Take a few moments to enjoy the winter landscape and the decorations. The frost may be nipping at your nose, but let it serve as a reminder of polar bears crossing the ice.

If it is snowing take the opportunity to go sledding, build an igloo, snowman, make a snow angel, or go ice skating

If you live in a warm climate, I challenge you to create a snowman out of recycled products!

When the winter winds howl and your feet get too cold, it’s time to head inside your dwelling. Make it a game to see who can take off the winter gear the fastest. Whoever loses has the job of making hot chocolate! Serve the hot chocolate in re-useable mugs. Look ahead of time to purchase organic/fair trade hot chocolate and re-useable mugs! After your drink, wash the mugs in the sink and let them air dry. Feel free to purchase porcelain 150 pens to decorate the mugs together and let him/her take one home as a memory of the date! (Be sure to follow the pen directions to maintain the artwork created!)

After hot cocoa, spend the evening by candlelight! Make a meatless meal for dinner and use cloth napkins. Make sure you compost the leftovers! To conclude the date play after dinner board games! Look for games that don’t require batteries such as Clue, Monopoly, Sorry, Trivia, or Apples to Apples. These games can be played between two people or more and can be lots of fun! When it is time to leave make sure your date is safe on the trek home!

Alternative Ideas:

-Make ornaments out of recycled products found in the home

-Curl up under a blanket with your date and take turns reading chapters out of a book (You can pick a polar bear book for this!)

-Do any of the “10 Ways To Help Bears” post!