August 29, 2013
by Celeste Tinajero
Comments Off on A Busy Week at GREENevada!

A Busy Week at GREENevada!

Student VIP passesThis was an exciting week for GREENevada organizations and students across Washoe County! On August 22nd, 5th and 6th graders from Bailey Charter School took a field trip to Urban Roots to learn about sustainable alternatives from solar power to composting.  The energy experts at Black Rock Solar provided a hands-on lesson on building solar arrays.  Students were able to see this form of energy in work, as Urban Roots farm is powered solely by a 2.9 kilowatt rooftop array installed by Black Rock Solar, already saving tons of greenhouse gases!

After receiving a tour, viewing some familiar and new vegetables, and petting some chickens, students learned about compost and found worms in the vermipost.  By lunchtime, students were able to think critically about the different ways energy is used to power appliances and produce foods.

Edward C. Reed High School was also the site of an exciting GREENevada event this week as well.  Keep Truckee Meadows Beautiful (KTMB) presented a special screening of their educational video campaign “Waste Warriors” Tuesday night at Reed High.

The eight minute video featured  5th grade and Reed High School Eco Warrior Club students, who  shared information about local and national trends in waste.  On camera, the students were proud to introduce solutions to manage the mounting problem of waste in landfills.  By the end of the video, each participant declared themselves “Waste Warriors,” something everyone can become to combat trash in our community.

The video was a culmination of KTMB’s efforts to beautify our community while educating the next generation about the importance of reducing, reusing, and recycling.  A panel of key project partners representing KTMB, granting agencies such as Wells Fargo and Waste Management, Kelly Barber and Cathy Schmidt_ from the Washoe County School District (WCSD),  along with students involved in the film addressed an audience of interested community members, dedicated teachers, and proud parents.  The Reed High Eco Warriors student group was key to the programs success in working with KTMB, as a GREENevada school focused on environmental education.

Students from Waste WarriorsAs part of the Waste Warriors educational campaign, curriculum is available for 3rd – 5th grade teachers to use in their classrooms.  The supplemental unit will encourage students to think critically about issues related to wasteful behavior and pollution, while incorporating the latest education standards.  “New standards for teachers lead to integrated, innovative learning” Kelly Barber, STEM Coordinator for WCSD said with promise, while Waste Warriors also touches on Next Generation Science, Common Core, and Nevada State standards for science, math, literacy, language arts, and social studies.  Through Waste Warriors, students gain a multifaceted educational experience, as they are exposed to real life issues affecting their community. Students will beempowered to create and implement solutions, fostering civic engagement for the future.

The school year is off to a great, green start here in Washoe County, and there is much to look forward to as we prepare for the GREENevada Student and Teacher Leadership Retreat on September 26th through 29th!

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August 21, 2013
by Celeste Tinajero
Comments Off on Incline High Generation Green Club Plastic Footprint Project

Incline High Generation Green Club Plastic Footprint Project

Guest blogger: Makayla Jones, Incline High School Generation Green Club

IMG_8831The Plastic Footprint project was created to raise awareness about harm that single use plastic causes the environment. The idea came from my art teacher, Anne Clark, who was shocked by the number of plastic water bottles left in her classroom by students. She decided to build a sculpture of a foot squishing the earth and leaving a footprint. The foot is covered with plastic bottles and overflowing with trash at the top, it represents all the plastic that causes harm to the earth. The earth in the sculpture is made all from trash (which I think is a little ironic). The footprint represents leaving a mark on the earth, only about 25% of plastic gets recycled and everything else is thrown into landfills or left as litter! The main goal for this project is to show people how much single use plastic really does affect the world. Everyone can make a difference with a few simple life changes such carrying a reusable water bottle and bringing your own bags to the store.

This sculpture has been a community project and everyone was welcome to help. Third graders from Incline elementary school, several kids from Incline high school, teachers and community members all pitched in their hands. The Plastic Footprint will be brought to burning man, Squaw Valley institute and a many other places TBA. My favorite part about working on this project was seeing who really wanted to be involved and be a part of something bigger than themselves. Many people helped at the beginning, and only a select few held out till the end. It was great working with everyone, and I really enjoyed trying to spread the word about not using single use plastic!

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Local students raise awareness about single-use plastic

August 20, 2013 by Celeste Tinajero | Comments Off on Local students raise awareness about single-use plastic

near completion
Incline Village High School students in the Generation Green Club have been constructing a large, human foot made of plastic water bottles stepping on the Earth to raise awareness about single-use plastic waste. The students call it the “Plastic Footprint Project,” and they hope it will educate community members on the amount of single-use plastic waste accumulating in landfills, waterways, our communities and in the ocean.  Students unveiled this art outreach project with the help of art teacher Ann Clark last Thursday at Incline Beach.  GREENevada representatives were there to take part.

Rebecca adds bottles to the structure, one by one
Beach-goers became volunteers to help turn bags of would-be trash into an introspective art sculpture.  The goal is to inspire people to rethink and reduce their own use of plastic.  People were eager to get involved and talk about the meaning of this project; a testament to our community being the change they want to see in the world.

Ann Clark, teacher and instillation artist, told the story of the lessons learned by students while the sculpture was being constructed. The collage earth, 3 feet in diameter, was a sphere that supported the weight of the foot, but just barely.  Building this round structure was a process of trial and error. Clark explained to students, “just like Edison, who failed 99 times before eventually building the light bulb, we have just learned multiple ways how not to build a globe, rather than failing that many times.”

people gather round to learn more about reducing waste
Informative booths offered alternatives, such as Beth Terry’s book, “Plastic Free,” “Drink Tahoe Tap” stickers, and a local petition to ban plastic bags.  Students sewed old T-shirts into cloth bags to hand out for people to use in order to break the habit of using plastic bags at grocery stores.  Megan Rachlin, president of Generation Green Club, explained “We want people to know there are good alternatives and everyone can help by just saying “no” to single-use, disposable plastics such as water bottles, plastic grocery bags, plastic plates and cups.”

The sculpture will be installed at the Earth Guardians’ Leave No Trace camp at Burning Man next week.  Squaw Valley Institute will also install the sculpture for their Plastic Pollution Coalition symposium on Dec. 19, 2013.

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July 30, 2013
by Celeste Tinajero
Comments Off on Welcome to the GREENevada Blog

Welcome to the GREENevada Blog

GNR6GREENevada has a new website, a new mission, new organizations and a new blog. Whew, that’s a lot of “newness!”  It is going to be an exciting year for GREENevada, as we take on new projects and initiatives to improve school sustainability and increase environmental education availability and resources in Northern Nevada.  GREENevada is currently comprised of  nine diverse organizations and agencies hosting environmentally themed community and education initiatives, resources, and volunteer opportunities. Members of GREENevada include: Alliance for Climate EducationBlack Rock SolarEnvirolutionGreenPowerKeep Truckee Meadows Beautiful, Nevada Recycles, Reno Bike Project, Sierra Nevada Journeys, and Urban Roots Garden Classrooms.

GREENevada is preparing for an upcoming student and teacher leadership retreat, which will be held the last weekend of September at Sierra Nevada Journey’s Grizzly Creek Ranch in Portola, CA.  GREENevada offers a multitude of educational resources for teachers on a variety of topics, including, but not limited to: climate change, composting, ecology, energy efficiency, recycling, safe biking and bike routes, school gardens, solar energy, waste reduction, and watershed education.

 

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