Welcome back Eco-Forcers!
Hope you all had an amazing summer. I know I don't even need to ask whether you all were making smart environmental decisions....I have the utmost faith in you!
Lots of things to share:
Our Green School family is growing throughout the state, region and across the world! Yes, for the 2009-2010 school year, there will be a total of 20 schools that will receive some form of the Greening Youth Foundation program. You may be wondering how are we going to do it? Well, here is how...
Greening Youth Foundation was awarded a five year contract from the United States Department of Interior to execute a Youth Conservation Corp. This funding will provide industry certification and assist in job creation and summer employment opportunities for young adults and youth. Additionally, through a partnership with AmeriCorp, Green Corp members will administer our Green School Initiative to many more schools throughout the Southeast. In fact, this past week Greening Youth Foundation trained, certified and graduated a group of young adults through Georgia State University's Green Corp program so that they can be ready for you guys in early September! Isn't this exciting???!!!!
So, although you may not see Dolly Detective (Ms. Ruth), Mr. Mike, Mr. James or me every Eco-Force club meeting or while recycling, just know that we are still very much involved and will be gently guiding the Green Corp members to show them the ropes ;0)
Oh, we also conducted an environmental workshop for the (Atlanta Falcon player) Ovie Mughelli Foundation Football Clinic this summer in Charleston, SC. Ms. Sauda and I had a blast conducting mini workshops for 120 boys!! The session was concluded with a fun game of Environmental Jeopardy and Football Recycle Relay.
I mentioned earlier that Eco-Force is growing wings. Well, with the assistance of our board member, Christa Sanders, there will be an Eco-Force club in Accra, Ghana this year!
Lastly, we will be revamping our website...big time! So, look forward for opportunities to communicate with your fellow Eco-Forcers via the GYF website.
That's it. Are you all ready? Hope so, because the fun has only begun!
Cheers,
Angelou
Thursday, August 6, 2009
Friday, June 5, 2009
The 3 R's and Summer Fun!
Hello Environmental Detectives,
As you embark on your summer adventures, remember to be a great example by not littering and following the 3 R's (Reduce, Reuse, Recycle). As you help with organizing summer outings or parties, encourage your parents to buy in bulk in order to use less (Reduce) packaging. At the various gatherings you may attend, encourage others to not litter and to always Recycle
materials that can be recycled ie. (paper, plastic, cardboard, glass, tin, aluminum) . When Dolly vacations with her family at the beach, she does not have access to curbside recycling. Therefore, she gathers all the recyclables and transports them to the recycling center in town. This maybe an extra step but it is WORTH IT! As you pull out your summer clothes and put aside the ones that don't fit anymore, remember to Reuse. Hand them down to a younger sibling or give them to a charity. You can also Reuse by creating a sand pail and scoop to take to the beach by following these simple directions:
You will need:
As you embark on your summer adventures, remember to be a great example by not littering and following the 3 R's (Reduce, Reuse, Recycle). As you help with organizing summer outings or parties, encourage your parents to buy in bulk in order to use less (Reduce) packaging. At the various gatherings you may attend, encourage others to not litter and to always Recycle
materials that can be recycled ie. (paper, plastic, cardboard, glass, tin, aluminum) . When Dolly vacations with her family at the beach, she does not have access to curbside recycling. Therefore, she gathers all the recyclables and transports them to the recycling center in town. This maybe an extra step but it is WORTH IT! As you pull out your summer clothes and put aside the ones that don't fit anymore, remember to Reuse. Hand them down to a younger sibling or give them to a charity. You can also Reuse by creating a sand pail and scoop to take to the beach by following these simple directions:
You will need:
- two plastic milk jugs
- hole punch
- twine
- paint and paintbrush
- To make the sand pain, cut the top off the milk jug. The bottom will become the pail.
- Punch two holes on two opposite sides. Thread a length of twine through the holes. Knot them together to form a handle.
- To make the scoop, leave the cap on the jug. cut away the bottom of the jug and the two sides below the handle to form a giant scoop.
- Decorate the pail and scoop with paints.
Have a terrific Summer!
Dolly
Saturday, May 30, 2009
ED S. Cook Elementary School has taken CLEAN, GREEN, and THRIFTY to a new level by developing “Green Glop”. Under the direction of Deborah Weems, the Cook entrepreneurs have created an environmentally safe laundry detergent that definitely gets your whites whiter, colors more vibrant and is affordable. The students have packaged washing soda, borax, Ivory Soap, and essential oil to create a detergent that they sell as a fund raiser for their school.
Way to go Cook!
Way to go Cook!
Sunday, May 10, 2009
So long Eco-Forcers...see you next year!
The school year has come to an amazing end and Greening Youth Foundation is incredibly proud of all of our green partner schools. To say that Craig Eco-Force, Brookwood Eco-Force, St. John Neumann Eco-Force, Cook Eco-Force and the J.C. Magill Environmental club accomplished a tremendous amount during its first year of inception would be a gross understatement. Therefore, we can't wait to celebrate with our partner schools. Ms. Ruth and I know that all of you will enjoy our EDIBLE LUSCIOUS LANDFILL! Yummy!
To share a few of the Eco-Force accomplishments, the clubs created Green Day challenges for the entire school, recycled unprecedented amounts of cardboard and paper, collaborated in the construction of outdoor classrooms, conducted creative fundraisers and not to mention made being green really cool...it became contagious!
Although the year end is only days away, let's not let the momentum end. Over the summer, challenge yourselves, families and friends to make wise environmental decisions. The simplest thing that you can do is to remember to recycle, conserve energy and water, encourage your family to buy local produce, and whenever possible- walk or bike instead of driving.
To all of our 5th grade Eco-Forcers who are graduating and are headed to middle school, we still hope that you will continue to be involved with Eco-Force. As you know, we need all of the help we can get! And, if you happen to be an officer, be prepared to pass the torch during our last meeting/party ;0)
It has been a pleasure working with all of you and your parents. Greening Youth Foundation looks forward to an exciting, productive and even greener 2009-2010 school year!
Cheers,
Angelou
To share a few of the Eco-Force accomplishments, the clubs created Green Day challenges for the entire school, recycled unprecedented amounts of cardboard and paper, collaborated in the construction of outdoor classrooms, conducted creative fundraisers and not to mention made being green really cool...it became contagious!
Although the year end is only days away, let's not let the momentum end. Over the summer, challenge yourselves, families and friends to make wise environmental decisions. The simplest thing that you can do is to remember to recycle, conserve energy and water, encourage your family to buy local produce, and whenever possible- walk or bike instead of driving.
To all of our 5th grade Eco-Forcers who are graduating and are headed to middle school, we still hope that you will continue to be involved with Eco-Force. As you know, we need all of the help we can get! And, if you happen to be an officer, be prepared to pass the torch during our last meeting/party ;0)
It has been a pleasure working with all of you and your parents. Greening Youth Foundation looks forward to an exciting, productive and even greener 2009-2010 school year!
Cheers,
Angelou
Thursday, April 23, 2009
Message from Craig Eco-Force President..
Hey everybody,
Happy Earth Day I want you really to think back today and ask yourself, did I....
REDUCE
REUSE
RECYCLE?
You guys might not know this, but I am the ECO-force President at my school, and I just wanted to say that it is so so so so so so sooo important to recycle. That's the reason our lakes and oceans are being polluted, there's so much trash they don't have anywhere else to turn for landfills, the oceans are... How would you like it if the trash trucks came over to your house and just dumped millions even hundreds of billions pieces of trash into your house???
Well, I am actually thinking of you, so do it, recycle and love our beatutiful EARTH♥
Thanks for reading,
Macie
MACiE♥BUShEll
Happy Earth Day I want you really to think back today and ask yourself, did I....
REDUCE
REUSE
RECYCLE?
You guys might not know this, but I am the ECO-force President at my school, and I just wanted to say that it is so so so so so so sooo important to recycle. That's the reason our lakes and oceans are being polluted, there's so much trash they don't have anywhere else to turn for landfills, the oceans are... How would you like it if the trash trucks came over to your house and just dumped millions even hundreds of billions pieces of trash into your house???
Well, I am actually thinking of you, so do it, recycle and love our beatutiful EARTH♥
Thanks for reading,
Macie
MACiE♥BUShEll
Wednesday, April 22, 2009
HAPPY EARTH DAY...take action!
Happy Earth Day everyone!
The Earth Day Fun Festival was an absolute success. The event had over 450 people in attendance from Brookwood Elementary, Craig Elementary, JC Magill Elementary and St. John Neumann Regional Catholic School- all there to enjoy the festivities and practice conservation!
It certainly warmed my heart to see all of our young environmentalists showing up to the event with loads of items to be recycled- it looked like a Six Flags ride line!
The GYF team is very thankful to: our sponsors- REI and STA Apparel, the volunteers, parents, community members, teachers, Eco-vendors and our Eco-Force club members for helping to put on such an enjoyable and informative community event.
Although we know that we should be doing something each and every day to celebrate our Earth, today is particularly a good day to demonstrate some of your actions. Use this day to spread the word to others. Help promote the day by wearing something green and when people ask or comment engage them in conversation.
Here are some items you can talk to them about...
Saying no to plastic bottles.
Americans use 2,500,000 plastic bottles every hour!
Recycling plastic saves twice as much energy as burning it in an incinerator- not to mention the amount of oil required to make a plastic bottle.
Recycle every single aluminum can you use.
An aluminum can thrown away will still be a can 500 years from now. Whereas, a used aluminum can is recylced and back on the grocery shelf as a new can in as little as 60 days.
Recycle your paper.
If every American recycled just one-tenth of their newspapers, we would save about 25million trees a year!
*On average, it costs $30 per ton to recycle trash, $50 to send it to the landfill, and $65 to $75 to icinerate it. The choice is yours.
For more information and tips to make you more energy-efficient at home, at work, and on the road visit the US Department of Energy website: www.eere.energy.gov/consumer
If we all do our part, it will make a difference now and for the next generation...
Cheers,
Angelou
The Earth Day Fun Festival was an absolute success. The event had over 450 people in attendance from Brookwood Elementary, Craig Elementary, JC Magill Elementary and St. John Neumann Regional Catholic School- all there to enjoy the festivities and practice conservation!
It certainly warmed my heart to see all of our young environmentalists showing up to the event with loads of items to be recycled- it looked like a Six Flags ride line!
The GYF team is very thankful to: our sponsors- REI and STA Apparel, the volunteers, parents, community members, teachers, Eco-vendors and our Eco-Force club members for helping to put on such an enjoyable and informative community event.
Although we know that we should be doing something each and every day to celebrate our Earth, today is particularly a good day to demonstrate some of your actions. Use this day to spread the word to others. Help promote the day by wearing something green and when people ask or comment engage them in conversation.
Here are some items you can talk to them about...
Saying no to plastic bottles.
Americans use 2,500,000 plastic bottles every hour!
Recycling plastic saves twice as much energy as burning it in an incinerator- not to mention the amount of oil required to make a plastic bottle.
Recycle every single aluminum can you use.
An aluminum can thrown away will still be a can 500 years from now. Whereas, a used aluminum can is recylced and back on the grocery shelf as a new can in as little as 60 days.
Recycle your paper.
If every American recycled just one-tenth of their newspapers, we would save about 25million trees a year!
*On average, it costs $30 per ton to recycle trash, $50 to send it to the landfill, and $65 to $75 to icinerate it. The choice is yours.
For more information and tips to make you more energy-efficient at home, at work, and on the road visit the US Department of Energy website: www.eere.energy.gov/consumer
If we all do our part, it will make a difference now and for the next generation...
Cheers,
Angelou
Saturday, April 11, 2009
Earth Day Fun Festival a week away!!!
With the Earth Day Fun Festival ONLY a week away, I hope all Eco-Force members are busy working on their costumes for the recycle parade and exhibits for the environmental awareness displays! The clock is ticking.....
To all who are planning to come out for the festival: Eco-Force clubs, Brookwood Elementary School, REI, Monkey Giggles, Greening Youth Foundation staff, STA Apparel, Buck's Pizza and Chic-Fil-A are all preparing for the fun and FREE community event. Please start gathering your recyclable items to bring to the event. Check the event page on this website to get specific information regarding what items to bring and how many tickets will be provided.
Come out next Saturday to celebrate the Earth, the hard work and accomplishments of our partner green schools....and have some fun!!!
To all who are planning to come out for the festival: Eco-Force clubs, Brookwood Elementary School, REI, Monkey Giggles, Greening Youth Foundation staff, STA Apparel, Buck's Pizza and Chic-Fil-A are all preparing for the fun and FREE community event. Please start gathering your recyclable items to bring to the event. Check the event page on this website to get specific information regarding what items to bring and how many tickets will be provided.
Come out next Saturday to celebrate the Earth, the hard work and accomplishments of our partner green schools....and have some fun!!!
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