Reference/Links: Our Favorites

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• Race to Stop Global Warming - Want to protect the environment and get in shape at the same time? You can help stop global warming by participating in this series of run/walks around the United States. Proceeds go to the Green House Network, a nonprofit organization working to bring people together in the effort to stabilize the climate. Upcoming races are October 15 in New York City and October 18 in Minneapolis/St. Paul.
  
  
• Green Map System - Urban environmentalists, take note! Green Maps, online maps highlighting sites of natural and cultural significance in cities around the world, make it easy to locate mass transit, organic cafés and community gardens in your hometown or while traveling. Green Maps are created by independent local teams; read more about how you can get involved.
  
  
• Rainforest Alliance's Learning Site - Packed with articles, slideshows and species profiles, this website offers a wealth of kid-friendly rainforest resources, organized by grade level. Don't miss the children's books (available online in HTML format or as downloadable PDF files), which feature colorful illustrations and rainforest photography.
  
  

• Panda Cam - Is a baby panda bear the cutest thing in the world? Take a look at the San Diego Zoo's panda web cam and decide for yourself. If you're still not sure, head over to the panda video page to watch a video clip from the little guy's weekly veterinary exam. This one includes audio, so you can even hear a few baby panda noises!
  
  
• Seasons of Life and Land - A new photography exhibit at the California Academy of Sciences in San Francisco offers visitors a breathtaking look at four seasons of life in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. If you're not in the area, view selected photos on this website, or take a 3D tour of the exhibit by clicking through the site's Quicktime panorama. For more about the ongoing battle to keep the refuge safe from oil and gas drilling, visit NRDC's Arctic National Wildlife Refuge page.
  
  
• Carpool Connect - If you want to start a carpool, but none of your coworkers live nearby, don't give up on your dreams of protecting the environment and riding in the HOV lane! Enter your zip code at this website to find other drivers who share your route. Then, use the site's messaging system to communicate with fellow commuters -- you don't have to reveal your personal information unless you find a match.
  
  

• Nature Challenge for Kids - Junior environmentalists will find this David Suzuki Foundation website a great jumping-off point for all kinds of fun activities. The site starts out with ten simple ways kids can protect nature, followed by four challenge activities that offer first-hand experience with the natural world. The "Cool Links" page connects young web surfers with other environmental websites, games and quizzes.
  
  
• Smart Communities Network - A project of the U.S. Department of Energy, this website provides an introduction to sustainable development. Read success stories about sustainable communities around the United States and click through the site's slideshows, articles and related resources for ideas on improving sustainability in your community.
  
  
• Nature Events - The publishers of the journal Nature created this searchable database as a way for science professionals to keep track of upcoming scientific events and conferences. Select a subject area, date and location to find events and announcements in your area of expertise.
  
  

• Goodwill Halloween Headquarters - This year, why not create a one-of-a-kind costume at your local used clothing store? Goodwill's website has some great ideas on how to recycle old clothes into creative Halloween attire. It's a lot cheaper than the costume shop in the mall, and you won't have to worry that any of your friends will show up wearing the same thing.
  
  
• Sight Night - If you have eyeglasses that you no longer wear, this Halloween-themed campaign is your chance to donate them to people in developing countries who cannot afford glasses. LensCrafters and Lions Clubs International are urging trick-or-treaters to collect old glasses as they go door-to-door. At this website, learn how your family can get involved and download promotional materials.
  
  
• Alien Empire: Insect Mask - Animated step-by-step instructions at this PBS website will turn your little ones into crickets or butterflies with a little cutting, pasting and coloring. Help the kids explore their new insect identities by reading the site's fascinating facts about the lives of insects.
  
  
• What's in a Howl? - No Halloween soundtrack is complete without the sounds of howling wolves, but what do these vocalizations really mean? PBS's Wild Wolves website presents a few theories on the ways wolves communicate and includes audio clips of different types of howls.
  
  
• Jack-O-Lantern Patterns - Use the pumpkin carving patterns at this website to create some Halloween handiwork that'll really impress the neighbors. You may have to spend a little more time on your carving than you did in the past, but we think the rock and roll pumpkins are worth it. For a pesticide-free pumpkin, use the map at Local Harvest to find a farmer's market or farm stand in your area that sells organic pumpkins.
  
  

Looking for links on a specific subject? Find our complete list, organized by topic, on the Reference/Links page.