【推荐1】At the age of seven, while his friends were spending their allowance on things like candy and toys, Jose Adolfo Quisocola was busy saving money for basic purchases. To try to get his peers (同龄人) to do the same, the boy from Peru came up with the idea of an eco-bank, the Bartselana Student Bank, which allows kids of all ages to become financially independent while also helping the environment.

Set up in 2012, the bank is the world’s first bank for kids. To become a member, a kid has to bring in at least 5 kilograms of solid waste and set a savings goal. Once accepted all bank “partners” are required to deposit at least one additional kilogram of recyclables on a monthly basis and observe other requirements, such as attending financial education and environmental management workshops.

The waste accumulated is sold to local recycling companies, which, thanks to Jose’s efforts, pay a higher-than-market rate for everything brought in by the bank members. The money received is placed in the personal account where they collect until the savings goal is reached. The account holder can then withdraw the money, or choose to leave it and make it continue to grow for a bigger target. “At the beginning, my teachers thought I was crazy or that a child could not undertake this type of project,” Jose recalls. “They did not understand that we are not the future of the country but its present. Luckily, I had the support of the school headmaster and an assistant in my class.”

The boy’s efforts paid off, and by 2013, the bank had over 200 members, who brought in one ton of recyclable waste. Today, the eco-bank, which now has the support of several local institutions, boasts ten educational centers. They are designed to teach over 3,000 students, aged 10 to 18, to become financially independent, use their money wisely, and help the environment.

Not surprisingly, Jose’s efforts have earned him several national and international awards. On November 20. 2018, Jose won Children’s Climate Prize, which comes with a medal and $5.500 in prize money and is given to a child or youth who has accomplished an extraordinary achievement for the climate or environment.

【推荐3】School is still out for the summer, but at Eastern Senior High School, students are hard at work. In a garden bursting with vegetables and herbs, nearly a dozen teenagers are harvesting them for the weekend’s farmers market. They work Tuesday through Saturday with City Blossoms, a non-profit that brings community gardens to schools and other places where kids gather in urban(城市的) areas.

Roshawn Little, going into her junior year at Eastern, believes that working in the garden has taught her to try all sorts of new things — like eating different kinds of vegetables more often. And she has taken those healthy behaviors home with her and her family now buy more fruits and vegetables. ^“ We mainly live around liquor （酒）stores and snack stores. There aren’t that many grocery stores. They’re way out, and you have to drive so far ——a common problem in low-income urban areas .”

City Blossoms is one of many groups across the country teaming up with local communities to establish school gardens, like the one at Eastern. These gardens, advocates say, are really outdoor classrooms where kids learn valuable lessons — not just about nutrition, but also about science and math, even business skills. For example, the gardens can be used for math lessons — like calculating the area of a plant bed — or learning the science of how plants grow.

On a recent weekend at the Aya farmers market, the kids work at a table decorated with handmade signs that read “onions” and “garlic”, inviting people to try their herbed salt with bread. Working at the market helps them practice public speaking skills and business skills.

Nadine Joyner of a nutrition education company has a food table next to the kids’ at the market and often buys produce from them. She is constantly impressed by the kids’ knowledge of what they’re selling — they know how to grow it, how to prepare it, and how to cook it.

【推荐1】Surfing: Famous Beaches, Famous Waves

North Shore, Oahu, Hawaii: Famous for being the birthplace of surfing

Wide, and beaches stretch nearly 20 miles along the Pacific Ocean. Between October and February, this surfing destination is suitable only for experienced surfers, as its big waves can reach 30 feet. In summer, the ocean can be almost completely flat, making it perfect for swimming.

Huntington Beach, California: Famous for the US Open of Surfing competition

This busy 8.5-mile-long beach attracts 8 million visitors a year for bodysurfing, boogie boarding (趴板冲浪) and board surfing at every level, beginner to expert. At night, the beach's fire pits draw families as much as the waves do during the day. The best time for surfers is winter, when the swells can hit 15 feet.

Jeffreys Bay, South Africa: Famous for being the setting of the classic movie The Endless Summer

This area of the ocean may contain the most consistent waves on the planet, with some up to 10 feet. The best waves are between late May and late August. The beach sometimes closes because of sharks, but at other times, surfaces are lucky enough to surf alongside dolphins.

Tamarindo, Costa Rica: Famous for being featured in the movie The Endless Summer II

This beach has waves up to 12 feet high, which are good for long boarders or short boarders, beginners or expense, with the best waves from April to July. Bodysurfing is not recommended because of offshore rocks. The relaxed atmosphere and nearly perfectly year-round weather make it feel like the California beaches of the 1950s.