Backpacks, Blessings, and the Beauty of Creation

As summer winds down and school buses start rumbling down the streets again, I find myself thinking about fresh starts. There’s something sacred about the back-to-school season. Maybe it’s the smell of sharpened pencils, the newness of school supplies, or the way the morning air turns just a little cooler. It’s a time of transition—out of the long days of summer and into routines, structure, and renewed purpose. And maybe, just maybe, it’s also the perfect time to renew our commitment to caring for creation.

It doesn’t have to be complicated. In fact, I’ve found that some of the most meaningful actions are the smallest ones, especially when they’re part of our everyday rhythm. Take school lunches, for example. If you pack a lunch, swapping disposable bags and plastic utensils for reusable containers, cloth napkins, and a refillable water bottle is one of the simplest ways to reduce waste. The EPA estimates that the average school-aged child generates 67 pounds of lunch waste per school year—that’s more than 4.6 billion pounds nationally. Choosing reusable items may not feel revolutionary, but over time, it makes a powerful difference.

And then there’s how we get to school. Walking or biking isn’t just good for our bodies, it’s good for the planet. Even carpooling can make a dent in emissions. Transportation is the single largest source of greenhouse gas emissions in the U.S., accounting for about 29% of the total. Every ride shared or step taken is a small act of stewardship. And let’s be honest—it also opens space for deeper conversations, spontaneous singing, or a few extra laughs on the way to school.

If you’re connected to a school community, consider supporting or starting a green team or environmental club. I’ve seen how much ownership and pride students take in leading recycling efforts, planting school gardens, or brainstorming ways to reduce energy use. It’s more than a project—it becomes a way of seeing the world and understanding their place in it. Research from the North American Association for Environmental Education shows that environmental learning boosts academic performance and helps students develop civic responsibility and critical thinking skills. It’s not just good for the Earth; it’s good for the students, too.

Even shopping can take on new meaning this time of year. While it’s tempting to buy all new clothes and gear, back-to-school swaps are a creative and sustainable way to reuse what we already have. Gently used backpacks, outgrown uniforms, and leftover supplies find new homes, and we keep tons of textile waste out of landfills. The EPA reports that the average American throws away about 81 pounds of clothing every year. That’s a lot of perfectly usable material we could be passing along.

We can also be more intentional with energy use as our homes and classrooms fill with activity again. Turning off lights, unplugging unused electronics, and advocating for LED lighting in schools are small steps that lower our carbon footprint.

But above all, I think this is a time to slow down and make it spiritual. Whether that means praying a simple blessing over your child’s backpack, reading a passage from Laudato Si’, or taking a quiet walk outdoors to notice the details of God’s creation—the changing leaves, the movement of clouds, the songs of birds—it all helps reorient us. These moments of pause remind us that we belong to something larger than ourselves. That we are stewards, not owners. And that we are called to care, especially now.

There’s a natural hopefulness in this season. A new school year always brings possibility. So, let’s embrace it not just as students and parents and teachers, but as caretakers of this beautiful, fragile Earth. Let’s teach our children not only math and reading, but how to live with intention. Let’s model small acts of love for creation, and trust that these actions will ripple outward. The work is not too big. It’s already in our hands—in the lunch we pack, the steps we take, the prayers we offer, and the habits we model.

The new year school year has begun. Let’s begin it well.