Green Senior Groups

     Being eco-friendly has no age limit. Seniors like to feel connected to their communities through volunteer work or involvement in community activities. Environmental senior groups are getting more popular because the aging population is also one of the most eco-aware, the baby boomers. This group started Earth Day and other green events, so as a retirement group, you can bet that retirement needs to be fulfilling to them and their community.

     Green Seniors is a group that has a wonderful website online to hear about green projects that many are doing post-retirement. They also have various local areas that they link into for their environmental causes. “Green Seniors is based on the belief that there are thousands of people in the world who care about the natural environment, have some time to spare, and want to do something to try and fix the problems that we have created,” is listed on their information section. Green Seniors can be found at greenseniors.typepad.com.

     The Environmental Alliance for Senior Involvement is another group that is worth looking into. According to their mission statement, “The mission of the Environmental Alliance for Senior Involvement is to build, promote, and utilize the environmental ethic, expertise, and commitment of older persons to expand citizen involvement in protecting and caring for our environment for present and future generations.” There are links on how to have the senior community involved in environmental causes in several states, as ambassadors, and even in national parks and worldwide! The group can be found on the web at easi.org.

     If you want to earn some “green” while being green, there are programs from the U.S. government to have retirees involved in environmental projects. The SEE Program is an employment program for older workers authorized by the Environmental Programs Assistance Act, passed by Congress in 1984. There are two purposes to the program. First, it provides employment opportunities to senior citizens age 55 and older. It also provides assistance to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in its efforts to protect the Nation’s environment by allowing the agency to supplement its regular work force.

     You may not have to even look online for a good project. Many senior centers have events such as planting flowers and other activities. The AARP is another good resource if you want to start up your own senior green group. There are many ways that you can enjoy a green retirement and help the Earth.