Celebrating Green Clubs!

Environmental Education Topic for April: Celebrating Green Clubs!

Many of our Clubs are demonstrating green practices for their kids, families, and communities.

This month in honor of Earth Day we are recognizing Clubs with outstanding projects and programs.


Kirkland's Earth Adventurers Club
Led by Americorps volunteer, Meagan Cooney, the Earth Adventurers Club meets twice a week to learn about environmental issues, create nature themed art, and implement projects to increase Club sustainability. Meagan also involves the Kirkland Torch Club in activities such as bird house construction, recycling, and gardening.










Bainbridge Island's Worm Bin  
Bainbridge Island built a worm bin in the spring of 2009. Assisted by Program Director Sarah Reid's interest in invertebrates (she recently attended a class on backyard beekeeping) they are still using the worms to compost food scraps and guide activities.


Redmond's Garden
The Redmond Club began a garden in the spring of 2008. In 2009 they involved 13 volunteers and planted 250 plants during their April garden party. Motivated by Senior Program Director Meaghan Jowdy, Childcare Operations Director Shaila Khan and assisted by Childcare Directors Shankia Cornethan and Chalee Johnson, Club kids and families planted bulbs, transplanted native plants, and decorated a rain barrel.


Rainier Vista and IslandWood
This spring three IslandWood graduate students are working with Rainier Vista Child Care Director, Tom Tidyman, to enhance R.V.'s recycling program and involve Club kids with a local community garden. Earlier this year, an IslandWood grad student assisted with environmental education program implementation and assessment with R.V.'s childcare and drop-in LEAP! program.



Wallingford Recycles
The Wallingford Club has a group of dedicated kids who learned all about recycling and waste management. Now they remind other Club kids and staff to dispose of waste properly and reduce what the Club sends to the landfill.





Mercer Island Goes Camping
Every other week during the summer Mercer Island Club kids get to go camping. M.I. Childcare/Teen Director, Joan Caldon, designs outdoor camping and hiking experiences to enrich summer camp programming and introduce kids to the local landscape. Additionally, M.I. works on reducing waste with help from their janitor. Each week he reports to the Club on the percentage of recyclables found in the trash. This feedback helps Club kids and staff improve their recycling efforts.



Shout Outs:

Mercer Island's Trash Pick-Up Day involving 50 kids and 5 staff

Chalee Johnson and Lis at Redmond's Smith site for their work on the Club's container garden

Elanya Delacruz's green activities with North Seattle's Torch Club

Debbie Campbell's work to start at garden at Federal Way

Bridget Powers, Adam Monda, Meagan Cooney, Joan Caldon, Chris Dunford, Quincy Robertson, members of North Seattle's Torch Club, and 8 UW MBA student volunteers for their work on the very successful 2010 Earth Works event at Gold Creek Lodge on April 2nd. Rainier Vista, Southwest, Mercer Island, Kirkland, Wallingford, Redmond, Federal Way, Rotary, North Seattle, and Ballard attended bringing 157 kids!

Thank You!