I am Eco Ellie and I love my African home. It’s a beautiful place to live with lots of room to roam. My very best friend is Mimi. She’s this small mouse you see. She’s loving, smart and friendly, and likes to follow me. This is my grandmother, and she leads us all. She never forgets a friend she’s met ... no matter how small!

Now, my grandmother is worried. She said the planet is starting to change. Where we live and what we eat is just not the same. She said humans love us all and would like to help us, too. But they need someone to lead, someone to show them what to do. Will you be a leader? I will help you learn the way. Together we can make a difference and we can start today!

To cut the energy you use by nearly 25 percent, replace all your light bulbs with the kind called fluorescent. It seems very small, but remember every night, when you leave any room, please turn off the light.

It’s always best to get your food close to your own street. Think about what it is and where it is you eat. It’s always best to get your food close to your own street. A farmer’s market with the freshest fruit is always lots of fun. Check the neighborhood you live in. Maybe you have one.

Why do I like showers more than taking a bath? I’ll tell you why, but it might make you laugh. I set a five-minute timer and turn it into a race! I save lots of water as I clean my body and my face.

but there are many ways to get around. You could walk or take a bus, A car is always easy, but there are many ways to get around. You could walk or take a bus, or use a bike to see the town!

recycle anywhere you are ... newspapers, plastic bottles, Remember to recycle anywhere you are ... newspapers, plastic bottles, even peanut butter jars. When it comes to recycling, I’m always in the loop. People sometimes make paper from my recycled poop!

How you travel, how you live and how your time is spent ... You can measure your demands on nature with a Carbon Footprint. A Carbon Footprint isn’t about the size of your shoe. It’s a way to measure the Earth-impact of common things you do. A small one means you’re living in ways that are wise. Is your Carbon Footprint elephant ... or baby-mouse size? Want to find out more? For information about climate change, visit the Environmental Protection Agency’s Web site for kids at http://www.epa.gov/climatechange/kids/index.html For calculating your household’s environmental impact, go to the emissions calculator Web site at http://epa.gov/climatechange/wycd/calculator/ind_calculator.html

Elephants never forget, and I know you’ll remember too. Keep the environment in mind in everything you do. Thanks for being a leader. The world has lots of need. Like I always say, “Live. Love. Lead.”

GOOD LUCK! To learn more about elephants, visit the following Web sites: Amboseli Trust for Elephants, which oversees the longest research project on elephants in the world, http://elephanttrust.org The Elephants of Africa, sponsored by PBS, http://www.pbs.org/wnet/nature/elephants

Eco EllieTM was developed exclusively for use in the Girl Scout Cookies® Activity. Story by Mary Pat Nimon Illustrations by Aria Stoddard Produced by ®, TM,  2008 Kellogg NA Co. Girl Scouts® and Girl Scout Cookies® are registered trademarks of the Girl Scouts of the USA and are used pursuant to license.