August-eNews-Back-to-SchoolPattie

By: Pattie Stivender
Bluegrass Greensource
Education Director

Another school year has begun!  Our education staff are keeping busy planning and scheduling with schools in our service area, and we have many exciting programs in the works for the 2016-2017 school year!

Recycling
In Fayette County, we will be working hard with the LiveGreenLexington Recycle Challenge. Arlington Elementary, Harrison Elementary and William Wells Brown Elementary will be challenging their communities to increase residential curbside recycling by 50%. Everywhere, we will continue our efforts in waste reduction education in classrooms through such hands on activities as waste audits. Recycling education is a priority in other counties as well— classrooms in Anderson, Boyle, Franklin, Jessamine, and Lincoln Counties will have a waste reduction component to their classroom learning plans.

Water
Water quality education is crucial  in Central Kentucky. Our educators help students understand the effects of nonpoint source pollution and model ways that students and their families can reduce the impact of pollution on water. Whether we are teaching about stormwater runoff in the classroom or taking students to waterways near their schools to perform water quality tests, our curriculum is designed to reach students from kindergarten through high school.

Energy
Each school year, we brings activities to classrooms that instruct students about renewable energy resources, energy conservation, and more specific education about Kentucky’s energy resources. Our educators will be working with School Green Teams to monitor energy usage in schools and determine ways that schools can reduce consumption of energy resources.

Litter
In Garrard, Lincoln, and Jessamine Counties, our educators will work with schools to perform litter cleanups and guide students in creating litter maps that show litter hotspots. Students will learn how litter directly contributes to the quality of local water.

If you are interested in learning more about Bluegrass Greensource education opportunities, please reach out! You can email me directly at pattie@bggreensource.org, or call the office at 859-266-1572.