By: Marikay Shellman, BPW Colorado Virtual
Chair, NFBPWC Environment and Sustainable Development Committee (2022-2024)

The Adventures of Nature Boy and how he helped the ESD Committee

Story written by Susan E. Oser

There once was a not-so-well-known superhero named Nature Boy.  He was a tall, slender man of 6ft 2in with dark hair, brown shoulders, and muscles like superman.  His mentor was the infamous Captain Planet that a lot of us remember from back in the 1990s or so.

He had not seen a lot of action lately as his time saving the planet was getting weary on him.  Almost every day he was busting someone for illegal dumping, hunting, and/or cleaning the water of something.  So, when Nature Boy got the call to help a small environmental committee on the Internet, he could not resist.  

It was a little environmental committee called the Environmental and Sustainable Development Committee from the National Business and Professional Women’s Club.  They were looking for help in spreading the message about the environment but could not think of an effective way to do it.   Nature Boy knew exactly who to talk to.   The old guy himself, Mr. St. Nick along with some help from his girl Mother Nature.

When Nature Boy travelled up to the North Pole, his trek was not too bad, especially with global warming on the rise.  However, at the same time, he wished he could’ve seen just a little bit more snow than he wanted.

Once he got up to the North Pole, he noticed that Santa needed a bit of environmental education on light pollution and a few other small things he could talk about with him…especially when it came to the new toys on the market that he didn’t feel were exactly environmentally friendly.

Nature Boy arrived in the North Pole area and walked towards the house in which he could smell cookies and hot chocolate emanating.  He walked up and rang the doorbell that sang the Jingle Bells song.  Within a few minutes, the door opened and a sweet old lady in a red dress and glasses opened and stepped forward.  It was Mrs. Claus.

Nature Boy was very grateful for the warm welcome.  He felt very cozy inside as he walked in, took off his coat and sat down by the fire. After about 10 minutes later, Santa came into the room, also served a few snacks by an elf that Nature Boy had not seen before along with Mrs. Claus who sat across from them.

“So, who is this strange person joining us today?”

“Allow me to introduce myself,” Nature Boy stood up.   My name is Sir Nature Boy and I come on behalf of a small environmental committee that needs some help to spread the message on the environment to kids and families around the world.”

“Oh!”  Santa exclaimed, “And what do I have to do with it?”

“Well, since you make gifts, and toys and things and the world look up to you,” Nature boy answered, “I thought you would help create something to get the message out.  Besides, there are a lot of people that are always asking you for things!”

“Well, that’s true.”

“And…instead of always making all these new shiny things, why not recycle or create something to show people how to recycle and make gifts!”

“But new is what I do!  And I don’t think I have time since it is so close to Christmas!”

“But dear,” Mrs. Claus said, “You know most parents can’t afford what the kids ask of you.  That’s why they hope to ask you, so you help them.”

“But won’t they be angry at me?  I sometimes get hate mail and must put them on the Naughty List.  I already have a list that’s as tall as me.”  Santa said.  He sounded a bit worried.

Nature Boy assured him, “Sir.  If you put a special message with the gift, along with a message from Miss Mother Nature, not only would it be a gift to the world, but also a gift to you!  I mean have you seen how smoggy the air is when you travel with your reindeer!  You would want some cleaner air to travel in during the night to keep you and the dear healthy.”

“That’s true,” Santa sat in contemplation, “And you said that you knew Mother Nature herself and she could give us a hand.”

“Sure thing!  Once we get our gift ideas together, I’ll give her a call.”

“Fine.  So where do we start?”

Nature Boy and Santa sat up all night talking about this special environmental gift.  Twinkles, one of Santa’s elves was summoned to sit down and take notes.  He was dressed in a 3-piece green suit and wore thick red glasses.

As Nature Boy and Santa chatted, they were braining storming a lot of ideas over hot chocolate and cookies.  Nature Boy mentioned how Santa could create recycled wrapping paper instead of using shiny, new non-environmentally friendly wrapping paper, as well as the light pollution that he first noticed when he stepped in the realm of the North.  It was an eye-opening education for Santa.

When the project got underway, Santa was a bit skeptical, but when he saw how the product came together, he realized how precious a gift it was going to be.  Mother Nature was contacted to write a special message and after a few days, it was sent.  When Santa read it, he had a tear in his eye and decided that he too would put a message in the box as well.

When Nature Boy attended the next ESD meeting, he did a show and tell of the “Earth Box”.  It was a shoebox wrapped in a used magazine.  Inside, there was a mask made from a handkerchief, a small bunny named from an old rag, a painted jar with instructions inside for how it could be used (coffee storage, egg mixer), and a reindeer made from used socks.  There were also two messages inside.  One from Santa and one from Mother Nature.   

The ESD Committee was pleased.  They thanked Nature Boy for his help, and a few days later they received their own “Earth Boxes.”  Each member found their own special use for the jar.  They also decided to share the messages from Mother Nature and Santa that were given to them.  These messages are below:

Mother Nature’s message:

If I were you, I’ll treat the earth like my own bed.

Make sure it’s clean and tidy, yes that’s what I said.

There’s a hole in the ozone and like your favorite sheet,

You need to hold it tight, so we won’t lose or gain any heat.

Protect the wilderness and give it care.

Don’t mess it up, like it as your hair.

This is my advice, spread it across the land.

Before everyone dies, and the world disbands.

Santa’s message: 

My dear children and families around the world.  I never realized how much the Earth needs our care until I met a special friend.  He taught me about how I should really look around me and be careful about my travels so I can be safe to drop off your gifts to you.  I didn’t realize that I do have to wear a mask as I travel through the air to some of your homes.  A few of my reindeer always get sick for some reason when I return from my travels…and now I know.  I also didn’t realize that I can see the stars more and I don’t need so many lights to be shiny outside.  The stars are their own Christmas lights.  

And there is so much more that I have learned.  And because of this, the “Earth Box” was created for you to enjoy and to share with your friends and neighbors.  Just as we spread peace and love for each other, we should also spread peace and love to the Earth and our homes.  

May our Earth be around for years to come and for me to visit every Christmas!

Enjoy your gift and have a Merry Christmas and other Happy Holidays!