Kids like keeping their planet healthy and clean. They love the beach and want to take care of it. You can help them do that during your visit to the Alabama coast this summer. Below are the basic Leave No Trace principles that kids can learn and implement.

Know Before You Go. Learn the Leave Only Footprints rules that prohibit leaving items on the beach after sunset. Teach your kids this rule and let them help you tote the beach chairs and toys back to your condo.

Choose the Right Path. Make sure children understand how important sea oats and sand dunes are to prevent erosion at the coast. When they know it, they’ll take the boardwalk instead of trampling on vegetation.

Trash Your Trash. They (hopefully) know this basic rule anyway, but trash goes into a can, not onto the beach.

Be Kind to Other Visitors. It’s simple to teach kids not to toss sand in someone else’s face or even shake out their towel where it blows on a nearby beachgoer.

Respect Wildlife. Watch out for bird and turtle nesting areas, and don’t harass or feed the shore birds.

It’s simple. It makes the beach experience better for everyone. And it teaches conservation practices to the next generation.