My friend Anita, designer/creator of those buttery-soft, recycled leather handbags I told you about, launched a line of children’s backpacks called “Woof Packs.”
They come in different colors for both boys and girls—Anita said she’ll soon be making some in pink—and I think my animal-crazy kindergartener will go bonkers over them!
[Updated 2022: You may need to consult with the artist and request a custom-made Woof Pack, as she is no longer offering these ready-made.]
Like ReFind Originals handbags, the Woof Packs are also made from recycled materials. They’re a practical, enviro-friendly, adorable way for kids to store and carry their treasures.
Plus, the bags are a reminder—to the parents, as well as the kids—of how greener choices in our everyday lives can add up. Even small steps lead, ultimately, toward more significant change.
“Woof Packs” have been spotted on the streets of NYC and here in the Midwest, as well. ReFind Originals would love to see endangered species like the wolf make a significant comeback.
Sometimes it just takes the buzz of a fun idea to get people thinking, learning, and talking about it.
To that end, I’d like to point you to a fascinating facility in Indiana called “Wolf Park,” where visitors are invited to observe wolf packs in a protected setting (the wolves are protected, and so are the visitors). It’s not a zoo-like setting or cages; the animals roam in packs on some acreage.
Scientists there are doing research to better understand the social behavior of wolves and work on developing handling techniques for human-wolf interaction. They believe that by studying wolves under semi-natural conditions in captivity, information can be gathered that isn’t possible to collect in wild studies.
At Wolf Park, these researchers can observe the wolves closely, around the clock throughout the year, getting to know each one’s personality. The organization focuses on education, research and conservation, sharing all that they learn with the public, inviting school groups and families to come visit.
They have a section on their website with lessons and activities to learn about wolves.
Why not pull out some paper and fold an origami wolf today with your kids while learning more about this misunderstood endangered animal?
In fact, go ahead and fold a whole pack, and listen to some howling while you work: Listen to wolves
** UPDATED ***
One of my daughters folded a wolf pack within minutes of this post going live:
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Great link! Thanks for sharing. I especially enjoyed the letter from the director. We support a wildlife sanctuary in our area and sometimes I consider pulling the support and re-directing it to a people charity. But I believe, as the director does, that one great hope for the survival of our own species depends on what we know about the animals we share this planet with.
Toni: Thanks for your thoughts. I thought that the Wolf Park website was a little confusing to navigate, so because you mentioned the director’s letter, I’m going to post the link for anyone who’s interested, for easy access.
http://www.wolfpark.org/Articles/whysupportwolves.html
Hey that’s cool stuff in regards to recycling. Want to see another cool recycling web site? Go to eWreckers and find a win-win solution to throwing out junk.
I love the backpaks. They’re cool. They could be used for school! They have a great look.