My friend Anita, designer/creator of those buttery-soft, recycled leather handbags I told you about, has launched a line of children’s backpacks called “Woof Packs.” They come in different colors for both boys and girls–Anita said she’ll soon be making some in pink–and I think my animal-crazy kindergartener will go bonkers over them!

Like ReFind Originals handbags, the Woof Packs are also made from recycled materials. They’re a practical, enviro-friendly, adorable way for kids to store and carry their treasures. Plus, the bags are a reminder–to the parents, as well as the kids–of how greener choices in our everyday lives can add up. Even small steps lead, ultimately, toward more significant change. 

“Woof Packs” have been spotted on the streets of NYC and here in the Midwest, as well. ReFind Originals would love to see endangered species like the wolf make a significant comeback. Sometimes it just takes the buzz of a fun idea to get people thinking, learning, and talking about it.

To that end, I’d like to point you to a fascinating facility in Indiana called “Wolf Park,” where visitors are invited to observe wolf packs in a protected setting (the wolves are protected, and so are the visitors). It’s not a zoo-like setting or cages; the animals roam in packs on some acreage. Scientists there are doing research to better understand the social behavior of wolves and work on developing handling techniques for human-wolf interaction. They believe that by studying wolves under semi-natural conditions in captivity, information can be gathered that isn’t possible to collect in wild studies. At Wolf Park, these researchers can observe the wolves closely, around the clock throughout the year, getting to know each one’s personality. The organization focuses on education, research and conservation, sharing all that they learn with the public, inviting school groups and families to come visit.

Parents, they have a section on their website just for kids, with games and activities to help them have fun learning about wolves.

Why not pull out some paper and fold an origami wolf today with your kids while learning more about this misunderstood endangered animal? In fact, go ahead and fold a whole pack, and listen to some howling while you work:

** UPDATED ***
One of my daughters folded a wolf pack within minutes of this post going live: