regional district of north okanagan · environmental activities and challenges. the activities...

RegionalDistrictofNorthOkanagan

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Table of Contents Introduction

Regional District of North Okanagan Programs……………..page 3

Environmental Classroom Presentations

The Four Rs……………………………………………………………………page 4

Composting…………………………………………………………………..page 5

Vermicomposting………………………………………………………….page 6

Recycling 101………………………………………………………………..page 7

Environmental Programs for the Entire School

Assembly Topics……………………………………………………………page 8

Litterless Lunch Day………………………………………………………page 8

Pack Your Waste Day…………………………………………………….page 9

Garbage Revolution Challenge………………………………………page 10

Reusable Bag Design Challenge…………………………………….page 10

Environmental Mind Grind…………………………………………..page 11

Tours

Greater Vernon Recycling and Disposal Facility (Landfill) or facility closest to the

school…………………………………………………………………………..page 12

Bluewater Project Inc. Material Recovery Facility…………page 13

Xerindipity Garden……………………………………………………….page 14

Resources

Online and Video Collection………………………………………….page 15‐16


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Introduction

The Environmental Services Department of the Regional District of North Okanagan offers interactive and

stimulating presentations focused on local waste reduction and waste management initiatives, and

provides a foundation for students to become leading environmental stewards in the community.

Presentations are designed to enhance and compliment specific learning outcomes for various class

levels, and are flexible to suit the requirement of a specific topic or teacher request. The presentations

generally are 1 to 1.5 hours in length (activity included); however adjustments can be made to suit

smaller, larger or combined classes.

Classroom Presentations

A variety of environmental presentations are available throughout the school year. Topics covered include

rethinking consumption, reducing waste, reusing where possible, recycling basics, and

composting. Activities and learning outcomes are summarized for each topic and can be adapted to a

specific classroom requirement.


These year round, hands-on programs are opportunities for your class or school to participate in

environmental activities and challenges. The activities provide excellent opportunities to put into practice

what is learned in the classroom, enabling students to become stewards of our environment, and lead

by example.

Tours

Bring your students on one or all available tours this school year. Students can learn about composting,

drought tolerant plants, pesticide free gardening, water conservation, and lawn care in the newly

constructed Xerindipity garden next to the Okanagan Science Centre. Bring them to an active landfill site

(Recycling and Disposal Facility) for a waste audit or simply have them gain a better understanding of

how a landfill operates by touring each section. It can be a two in one tour with the Regional District of

North Okanagan Materials Recovery Facility located at the Greater Vernon Recycling and Disposal

Facility site. Students can see what happens to their recyclables once they are collected from the

curbside and where they go from the North Okanagan. All tours must be booked in advance.

For more information contact:

Regional District of North Okanagan- Waste Reduction Coordinator

Ph: 250-550-3743 Fax: 250- 550-3701

Email: [email protected]


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Environmental Classroom Presentations

The Four Rs – RETHINK, REDUCE, REUSE, RECYCLE!

Students will learn what it means to rethink, reduce, reuse and recycle resources and discuss the waste reduction impact of each. Students will learn how important it is to practice the 4 Rs at school and at home. This presentation can be modified to suit various grade levels.

Activity Options

Blue Bag Recyclables Race – Students will sort through materials to see which team obtains the most correct recyclable material in the Blue Bag

Classroom Waste Audit – Students can see exactly how much waste is thrown out and what could be reused, composted, or recycled

Read The Lorax by Dr.Seuss and discuss the implications of personal actions and choices and the environment

Story of Stuff Video followed by discussion questions (more suitable for middle grade levels) Design a waste reduction plan for the classroom, school, community 4 R Craft Activities – students can apply their creative side and relate the reduce, reuse,

recycle concepts through artwork

.


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Composting

Organics in landfills are the most significant contributor to greenhouse gas emissions and make up approximately 25-30% of buried waste. Students will learn how to reduce organic waste going to area landfills with the use of a backyard composter. By viewing a variety of bin styles and learning how to start one at home even the beginner composter can achieve success! This presentation can be modified to suit various grade levels.

Activity Options

My Composter’s Diet Matching Game - Students will apply what they have learned and match the items that should go in a compost bin

“Sarah Cynthia Sylvia Stout Would Not Take The Garbage Out” Poem- Students will discuss the items in the poem and what could be composted instead of being thrown out

Getting Started! Techniques to prepare your composter for action! - Students will learn how to start backyard composting beginning with bin selection and layering techniques

Design an organics diversion plan for the classroom, school, or community


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Vermicomposting

Students will learn about natural composting processes and the relation to soil health. An introduction to composting with worms will involve learning about worm anatomy and functioning and students will learn; how much and what type of “waste” they eat, how they breathe, how they like their home to be and more!

Activity Options

Meet the Worms- Students will have the opportunity to see, touch and smell worms and their castings.

Worm Diet Match Game – Students will demonstrate what they have learned by matching what can and cannot go in a worm bin


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Recycling 101

Students will learn more about the fourth R and why it is placed fourth after Rethink, Reduce and Reuse. An introduction to and explanation about the local Blue Bag Curbside Recycling Program will be given including what can and cannot be added to Blue Bags and why. Students will have an opportunity to follow the path of a typical Blue Bag and see what happens to the contents inside.

Activity Options

Blue Bag Sorting Race – Students will sort through typical “waste” materials to find the recyclables

What Can I Become Game – Students will learn about the process materials go through once they are collected from the curb and find out they are turned into.

Story of Stuff Video – Students will discuss the role recycling has in the context of the video (suitable for secondary grade levels)

Design a recycling plan for the classroom including bin styles, signage, and rules Recycling Trivia Questions


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Litterless Lunch Day

The Littlerless Lunch Day can be done in the classroom or as a planned activity for the entire school. The goal is to have students become more aware of what waste is generated from lunch and snack packaging. By reducing or eliminating packaging waste from lunches, students can reduce unnecessary waste going to area Recycling and Disposal Facilities (landfills) and lower disposal costs for their school.

How to Run a Successful Litterless Lunch Day:

Advertise well in advance through the school website, posters in the school, newsletter etc.

Have a contest or information session at an assembly to educate students on what is reusable and what is not prior to the event

Turn over or reduce recycling and garbage cans for use with signage explaining what is happening for the day


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Pack Your Waste Day

This activity raises awareness about garbage simply not disappearing once picked up from the curb, but that it has to go somewhere and be dealt with in some manner. Students will realize how much waste is personally produced in a day and how that multiplies by each day and by each student in the entire school. Each student will pack around the waste they generate throughout the day. One bag will be used for recyclable items (i.e. used paper), and one for garbage (i.e. lunch and snack waste that is not recyclable).

To Ensure A Successful Pack Your Waste Day:

Inform students and parents of the upcoming day and that students are required to bring two plastic bags (teachers could collect bags for each student and store them for the event) and that they must wear pants with loops or a belt to tie the bags to

Explain that one bag is for garbage materials and the other for recyclables (a third bag for organics is optional)

Inform parents in advance and explain what will happen during the day Turn over all waste and recycling bins and place signage explaining what is happening Complete a classroom tally of each at the end of the day and share the results at the

next assembly, in the school newsletter, website etc. Make a list of action items to further reduce waste at school

Pack your waste in progress…


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Garbage Revolution Challenge

After viewing ”Garbage! The Revolution Starts At Home”, teachers and students can discuss how they will reduce waste in the classroom or school. The challenge could be similar to Pack Your Waste Day with the option to extend keeping waste for a week or month as shown in the video. By keeping the waste at the school for an extended period of time, students are given a visual of how much waste is produced and what can be done to reduce it. The concept that garbage does not simply disappear, but must go somewhere and be dealt with in some manner will be reiterated.

Reusable Bag Design Challenge

We want your best designs and fashions! In 2008, students involved in BC Rivers Day competed in a reusable bag design challenge. One design was chosen from this event for the 2009 Earth Day reusable bag give away day and was displayed on 5,000 bags distributed throughout the North Okanagan.

We challenge students and teachers alike to take part in a design your own bag event. The bags can be made from old items found at home that would likely be recycled or placed in the garbage. A contest could be held in each classroom to see all of the varieties and styles that can be produced. This contest could turn into an auction to raise money for school events.

http://www.ecoleague.ca/en/bags/overview.php


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Environmental Mind Grind

The Environmental Mind Grind (EMG) competition has undergone changes in order to maximize participation from each school in the Regional District of North Okanagan and to encourage more students to take part in the trivia challenge. The EMG trivia challenge can take place in participating schools at any time during the school year. Teachers can work the trivia games around other planned activities and give students year round opportunities to learn each of the game topics. Teachers that would like assistance planning their mini classroom or assembly style EMG can contact the Waste Reduction Coordinator, Karmen Morgan, at 250-550-3743 or email [email protected]. Study packages are available for downloading at www.rdno.ca/emg/index.php


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Tours

Recycling and Disposal Facility (Landfill) Tour

Regional District staff are more than happy to have students come and observe how an active landfill operates. Students are welcome to take a “hands on approach” and participate in a waste audit as shown below or view the newly constructed Residential Drop Off area. Audits at the landfill sites are recommended for senior class levels only.

Students can see the volumes of material brought to the Recycling and Disposal Facility on a typical day and see the impact our consumption habits have on the environment. By viewing the materials in the bins or performing a waste audit, students become more aware of what is being buried and how much of that material could be diverted. The need and importance of practicing the 3 Rs everyday is affirmed in this tour.


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Bluewater Projects Inc. Material Recovery Facility

Students can watch the process that Blue Bag materials go through once they are transported to the Materials Recovery Facility at the Greater Vernon Recycling and Disposal Facility. Students will watch Bluewater Projects Inc. staff manually sort through materials, arriving by the tonne, into product categories to prepare them for baling and shipping. Students in senior classes can obtain “hands on” experience and join the staff on the sorting line to see what residents in the North Okanagan are putting in their Blue Bags and to learn more about what is and is not currently recyclable. The 4 R concept is reaffirmed.


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Xerindipity Demonstration Garden

Students of all ages are welcome to tour the Xerindipity Demonstration Garden May through October every year. The garden features six themes: Composting, Natural Lawn Care, Pesticide Free Gardening, Water in the Garden, Wiggling Workers, and Xeriscaping. Each theme in the garden is displayed and signage provides visitors with information on each topic. Regional District staff can guide classes through the six themes of the garden and offer short workshops on each topic. Students have an opportunity to see how composting with a variety of bins styles is achievable and have a chance for “hands on” composting participation. The tour is a great follow up to an in class discussion of the 4 Rs concept.

The garden is conveniently located between the Okanagan Science Centre and Polson Park and accessible during regular Polson Park hours of operation.


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Resources

Online Resources

Story of Stuff –

From its extraction through sale, use and disposal, all the stuff in our lives affects communities at home and abroad, yet most of this is hidden from view. The “Story of Stuff” is a 20-minute, fast-paced, fact-filled look at the underside of our production and consumption patterns. The “Story of Stuff” exposes the connections between a huge number of environmental and social issues, and calls us together to create a more sustainable and just world. It'll teach you something, it'll make you laugh, and it just may change the way you look at all the stuff in your life forever. This video is available online at www.storyofstuff.com.

Other Resources

Video Collections:

Garbage! The Revolution Starts At Home DVD 76 minutes

This film follows the Mcdonald family of Toronto, Ontario as they track their environmental footprint for three months. All waste is accounted for during this time period, including the children's lunchboxes and out of the home activities. While the topic is serious and the footage provides interesting statistics related to how each of us makes an impact on the planet, there are humorous moments that provide perspective and reality. The director goes beyond just producing a film, by encouraging the audience to join the online community at the film’s web site to recount their own experiences, share videos and stories, as well as ideas for change.


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Here’s The Dirt Guide to Composting VHS 11 minutes

This video focuses on the basics of backyard composting as a means to reduce waste going to area landfill sites. The video walks the beginner through the types of composters available, layering techniques, what is required for a composter to decompose organic waste effectively, and how to compost indoors. The video can be signed out at any time for teachers who would like to supplement the curriculum of waste management. A Regional District of North Okanagan vermicomposting system is also available for in-class demonstrations and additional Regional District of North Okanagan vermicomposting information is available and can be emailed or mailed to interested teachers.

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