We are children who love nature and wild creatures. We want to inherit the garden God made for us, too. The sea and mountains, the forests and deserts belong to all. We want clean air to breathe and clean water to drink and play in. So we help in every way we can as we learn about the wilderness.

A seedling group sprouted in 1998 in San Diego, California. If you live in San Diego County, you can join our first group by contacting San Diego Eco-Kids Club President David Nagle. If you are living on the Big Island of Hawaii, you can join the Hawaii Eco-Kids Club by contacting Club President Lorenzo Vidali. If you live elsewhere in the world, you can start a club there. We'll send you simple instructions and communicate on the Internet to exchange ideas and support each other's programs and plan events.

UEF has launched B.I.R.T.H. (Big Island Rototilling Teams of Hawaii), a youth program that caught the interest of many due to its simplicity, multiple benefits, and very low cost.

Eco-Kids is engaged in helping individual community members jump-start their backyard victory gardens by rototilling plots and providing starts and seeds. During World War II Victory Gardens were proven a success for morale, hearts, and stomachs.

Requests by elderly and residents for garden help are coming in.

This free service brings youth, seniors, and families closer, and is already viewed as an expression of Hawaii's traditional "aloha spirit" in action.

There was a big turnout on January 29th for the creation of the Roland Perez Family garden, including a reporter from Channel 7! The B.I.R.T.H. team, with help of a 5 hp Craftsman Rototiller, spent several hours tilling the soil, then prepared raised beds for planting. UEF supplied complimentary seeds, and the Perez Family graciously fed the whole gang. We all had a productive and fun afternoon.

North Kohala's Big Island Na Mahina Ai Self-Sustainability Community Garden, sponsored by United Eco-action Fund, was opened in January 1999, An Eco-Kids' Victory Garden is located on the site.

Mothers, fathers, sons, daughters, friends, neighbors, entire families are encouraged to support this valuable educational effort. Any donations will be of great help. Surpluses of tools, equipment, seeds, and other items companies and businesses may wish to contribute to this exemplary humanitarian effort of community farming will be gratefully received.

To join in the club please send an e-mail to: uneco@uneco.org. Be sure to include your letter (snail mail!) address, your age, favorite sport, and other special talents you have and hobbies you enjoy. We'll then send you a confirmation.

"Eco-Kids Club also includes exploring, obstacle courses, and camping events. It will train you to avoid dangers, help others, and give you an idea of how tragically this earth is being destroyed. We can all work together to change that," said Lorenzo Vidali, Hawaii Eco-Kids Club President.

Send us your picture and a statement you have written about ways to preserve our environment, or novel brainstorms on how to teach about the importance of saving natural resources. We'll put your ideas and picture on this page to inspire other kids.

We'll also publish stories or essays you have written about the environment and living creatures.

E-mail us at: uneco@uneco.org and join in. It's free! We can help you set up a club in your own town.

SAN DIEGO ECO-KIDS CLUB David Nagle, Club President San Diego Eco-Kids Club 49225 Forest Springs Road Aguanga CA 92536 nagle6@yahoo.com

HAWAII ECO-KIDS CLUB Lorenzo Vidali, Club President Hawaii Eco-Kids Club P.O. Box 73 Kapaau HI 96755 uneco@uneco.org