Adult seeks "green" gift for 13-year-old. Help!?

Question

I'm attending a bar mitzvah soon for a kid who is very much into environmental issues, and I'd like my gift to be in this area. He lives in New York City, Upper West Side, a stone's throw from Broadway (up there), so he's a sophisticated urbanite--as sophisticated as one can be at 13. If possible, I want to get him something other than money or a donation to some cause or another or a gift card or anything electronic, video or computer related. I'm figuring $50 to $100. Any ideas? Thanks.

Anonymous · Accepted Answer

The same type of gift that is appropriate for a 13 year old birthday is also approriate for a bar/bat mitzvah. Generally close family gives Judaic gifts (such as kiddish cup, tallis bag, tefillin), so friends tend to give more neutral gifts. I find asking the parents what the child wants is the best bar/bat mitzvah gift-giving strategy.

Some popular gifts today include books, music, magazine subscription, DVD, computer and video games, software, camera, binoculars, watch, army knife, skate board, and sleeping bag. Gift certificates and cash also work well as bar/bat mitzvah gifts. Some people give cash in multiples of 18 as the the Hebrew word for life (chai) has the numerical value of 18 in Judaism.

Alexandra · Answer

You could build or buy him a small worm bin to compost his family's food scraps. They can be kept anywhere, even apartments, and they're very clean. They don't smell at all when they're kept right and the fertilizer is very rich. It's a great way to get rid of scraps and get something very beneficial in turn.

♥ † Happy Easter † ♥ · Answer

Get him nothing. You can't get much "greener" than that. Unless you throw him the 100 in 10's thats a lot of green.

J-lynn · Answer

Try this site: http://green.yahoo.com/gift-guide/

Not sure how helpful it will be, but it's a start....

EDIT:
pdooma, that is a great idea!!

pdooma · Answer

Give him a tree.  Like a little bonsai tree that he can prune.  They are an art form in themselves.

larsonCM · Answer

solar charger

Chris C · Answer

What a fruit get him some video games.

simplybrittnie · Answer

http://www.etsy.com/search_results.php?search_query=upcycled

Everything is up-cycled, which is good for the environment.

? · Answer

http://www.thinkgeek.com/gadgets/travelpower/

Try that site, they have some good stuff.

http://www.thinkgeek.com/gadgets/travelpower/c5a7/
http://www.thinkgeek.com/gadgets/travelpower/bb72/
That one might be good... in your budget and pretty cool!

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Adult seeks "green" gift for 13-year-old. Help!?

9 Answers