Monday, March 21, 2011

Think Green! Plant-a-Palooza!!!

As the final days of our semester pass idly by, I begin to look more and more on our cozy little home with reminiscence, rather than expectancy. Our time is short, and it makes me want to ask a question I hope would be on every group's mind:

What legacy will you leave behind?

Think about it: As a group, each Summit team sweated and fought for the house in which they now comfortably reside, yet it seems as though we will leave no part of the sweat and blood (you know, papercuts) for future groups. This is unacceptable.


The Think Green! group will host a flower planting event on Saturday April 30th where Summit students will have the opportunity to plant a row of flowers in front of the bushes outside their apartment. Flowers, fresh soil, and equipment will be provided by the Think Green! group. All students who help plant will be entered in a drawing for a $25 Kum and Go card, good for gas or snacks, or what have you.

Food and drinks will be provided, there is even talk of an inflatable pool! So mark your calendars and take a few hours out of your Saturday to make a lasting contribution to this year's Summit group.

Tuesday, March 15, 2011

Summit FebruAny

This February at Summit we decided to incorporate Valentine's Day into the activities we had planned out for the children at Boyd. We went shopping at Target for around 50 Forget-Me-Nots and other cute flower pots, and also some organic candy bars to reward the children after our presentation. We went to a Fifth Grade class where the kids were a lot older a lot more mature than the Second graders we were used to having. We divided them into groups, and the kids and my group seemed so smart and funny whenever I asked them questions about pollution, recycling, and why it is important to be Green. They gave creative answers on ways to recycle that I had never had thought of before, like recycling hair for dolls, recycling leather and fabric, and all these things that I hadn't even thought of. I could tell these kids came from families that took on the responsibility of being Green in their households very seriously. Afterwards, we shared the results with the class, and we gave them the Forget-Met-Nots along with the organic candy bars. It was a sweet and green way to celebrate Valentine's Day.
As for recycling in Summit, it's been great! We've kept on track and a list of who's turn it is to recycle, and I've made it to the list a few times... I am very proud. With the Green Carnival coming along and organizations like the Garden Club helping us, it's going to be a very successful culmination of ThinkGreen at Boyd.

Friday, March 11, 2011

Those things that you take for granted.

The past few weeks at Summit have been busy as always. Today we had a green recess with the kids of Boyd elementary. It’s a great time of the year for Green crafts. It’s spring, after all! A time of growth and fertility. A time to be Green! We had two different activities for the kids to do. With the first craft we used cardboard from food packaging and toilet rolls to make little flowers. I think these sorts of crafts teach the kids important lessons about the value of all of our resources. I mean, toilet paper rolls! So many people ignore their existence. In fact, I think many people have probably come to hate toilet paper rolls. You just got done going to the bathroom (don’t be shy, we all do it) and you look over, and there’s NO TOILET PAPER. Okay, well stay calm. There’s probably some toilet paper in the cabinet under the sink, right? It’ll be okay. Just open … that… cabinet… door.

But no. It’s empty. The cabinet is empty because either you or your housemates have just not gotten the chance to buy toilet paper. You are stranded on that toilet in a most vulnerable state, staring with disdain at that toilet paper roll. That toilet paper roll, which no matter how long you stair at it, will not produce any toilet paper.

And once that knight in shining armor produces that white roll of toilet paper, the first thing you do is victoriously slam dunk that toilet paper roll into the dark black hole by the toilet that is the trashcan.

BUT NO! Don’t do that! The trashcan???? Really??? The trashcan!!!?!? I think you know better than that. I hope you know better than that. You have just wasted one of the most versatile resources that you will ever have the honor of sitting next to while on the toilet. It’s this perfect cylindrical form, this circular prism made out of cardboard. Cardboard! Do you know what you can do with such a wonderful cardboard cylindrical prism?

Elmo figurines!
Pretty tree cutout art!
Lamp shades!
Irishmen!
Napkin holders!

Think about that next time you sit in anguish on the toilet, wondering how you will ever escape this toilet paperless prison. Think of how you could embrace this opportune material, the toilet paper roll.

DesirĂ©e 

March Madness - Smith

Things are really rolling this month, I have already racked up 4 hours this month, and I haven't been able to attend all of the events we have had! The Boyd kids are also starting to recognize us, and are remembering almost EVERYTHING we presented in their classes. Central High School is pretty excited about us helping with the Green Carnival, and soon we will be meeting weekly to plan/work on events for the carnival.

Last night was the Boyd Garden Club kick off night, and we were there to help them get started. The kids were able to get 100% recycled notebooks we have been making out of recycled paper and cardboard boxes from cereal and similar boxed items. We also gave them avocado seeds that they can grow. First the kids colored single serving milk cartons that had been cut in half to serve as a planter for their seed. Then we helped them put toothpicks in the seed so that way it could rest just on top of water they would fill the carton with. In a few weeks, with plenty of sun, the seeds should sprout. Then they can transplant them to a larger container. In about 10-15 years they will even have their first avocado. I wonder if any of the kids will still have their tree when they get to college.

Today we had a green recess, and had two activities. The first activity was making cardboard flowers out of cereal boxes and toilet paper rolls. Everyone wanted to make one, but we ran out of supplies so we will have to do it again sometime. The second activity was drawing on large sheets of paper that we will hang up at the carnival in April. Kids drew their favorite things about Spring, and I even doodled a few things. While we were there kids came up to us and said things like, "I know you," or "Hey you came to my class". We asked if they remembered what we talked about and every one of them did! Some were even able to go into detail about what we had taught.

This month isn't even half way over and I feel like we have accomplished a lot. Things should keep moving pretty quickly up until our main goal of a green carnival takes place. It should be a lot of fun.

Times Are A-Changing

A lot has changed in the Summit group since the last time I've blogged; many welcome changes. We've had much more communication with the administrators and students at Boyd, and we've even been establishing relationships with members of the Springfield Urban Alliance. March, and this week in general, have been really busy for Think Green. As Drew mentioned, he and I embarked on a cold trek to Central High School yesterday to solidify plans for the Green Carnival in April. This will be a wonderful opportunity for us to partner with others in the community, and it's also really rewarding to see high school students that are so passionate about the environment (future Summit kids? :))

Last night we headed over to Boyd and participated in a Springfield Urban Alliance garden and environmental awareness night. We were able to break up into groups and help the Boyd students plant avocado seeds, make recyclable notebooks, and learn about eating healthy. This activity was an excellent way for us to meet other Springfield men and women who share our enthusiasm for the environment and also wish to instill these values in the future generation.

Finally, today we will be heading back over to Boyd for a green recess event. These events have been very successful in the past, so I've got high hopes for today. We will be making flower pots/vases with the kids that are made from toilet paper rolls and carefully cut cereal boxes. I think the students will be really excited to make these.

Peace,
Schamy

Greene County=GREEN County

        It is a warmish, sunny start to an exciting day for out Summit Think Green Group! Though our group has only had sporadic interaction with the kids at Boyd elementary, this week has been an exciting one for our group.  The fun all began last night when our group trekked over to the school for a a community garden event for the kids and families at Boyd Elementary.  Hosted by the Springfield Urban Alliance Coalition (SUAC), the event highlighted the upcoming Community Garden events at Boyd's community garden located next to cox north.  With a dinner made of all organically grown ingredients- wraps with home made hummus, fresh veggies, and a side of tasty organic apples- the kids and parents were all excited to see the types of products that their own garden could yield throughout this spring and summer. Along with tasty foods, there were also representatives from Boyd's Green Team, Cox North, and other leaders in the Midtown community who participate in communal activities- each bringing crafts, hands on learning tables, and other great ways to get the kids and parents excited to volunteer at the community garden over the next couple months.
        Overall the most exciting aspect of this event last night was to see the type of work that is already going on in the Springfield community, and the encouragement that came with realizing that we are not the only group in Springfield who is working to ensure that kids are properly informed about the importance of living green.  It was also a great opportunity to meet the parents of some of the kids we have been working with throughout the year and to see that they have a vested interest in what their kids are learning at school.
       Today we are heading back to Boyd for another "Green Recess" where we will make flowers out of recycled materials to celebrate that spring is almost here.  Hopefully the kids will be just as excited today and throughout the rest of the semester about the community garden as they were last night so that we can really plug in at the garden and ensure that it is a success.

Enjoy the sunny day!
Anna Regan

Thursday, March 10, 2011

"In 10-15 years, you'll have an avocado!"

March has been pretty good so far, and as spring break nears and our FAFSA forms are getting filed, the Think Green at Boyd Elementary group has been going strong.  Now that all the snow is gone, there are more opportunities to work with the kids at the school.  I actually went to Boyd for the first time today for a display of the work that the club is doing, and the turnout was very good in my opinion.  I was happy that I finally got the chance to get out there and see the great work that’s getting done.

Personally, I am looking forward to the Green Carnival at Boyd on April 21st as a partner with the science club at Central High School.  Amy and I were informed at the meeting over there today that there could be up to 220 kids going through the carnival, which would be phenomenal.  Taylor and I have teamed up to pilot the “Eye Spy Collage” booth, which will be similar to the I Spy books that got all of us through elementary school back when a cell phone with Tetris was the coolest thing ever.  Anyway, Taylor and I will take pictures of various cluttered montages with a recyclable item cleverly hidden somewhere in the picture.  We can then edit and format the image in PhotoShop and I can have the sheets printed at the architecture building.  Children will receive candy/prizes if they find the item in the pictures – simple yet effective.  This excites me because I get to use my talents as an architecture student in this project.

I think that the partnership with Central High School will be incredibly successful and is a good opportunity for this group to finish the year off strong.  The students and teachers over at Central are great and have the same vision as we do.  Until next time, stay classy.