EDUCATION & AWARENESS

Our education and outreach programs can be utilized in a variety of ways by:

• Individuals

• Teachers

• Parents

• Schools

• Youth groups

• Adult organizations​​

In Jefferson and Belmont Counties, we can provide:

• School curriculum

• Recycling activities

• Worksheets

• Recycling tours

• Awareness booths

• Presentations

• Public speakers

We have a staff that is familiar and active in our local communities and schools with a goal to promote and support recycling programs, education and awareness for all ages.

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Our mascots “Jeff” and “Bel” are eager to come to your school, meeting or other function with our educators to help teach Reducing, Reusing and Recycling!  To Request a visit, call (740) 266-6899 in Jefferson County and (740) 296-5376 in Belmont County.

AWARENESS

We sponsor as well as participate in many activities, events and contests throughout the year.  We hope that residents find these activities enjoyable as well as educational. It is our hope that participants learn the importance of reducing, reusing, and recycling.

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Our Awareness Booths are set up at School Expos’, Health Fairs and the County Fairs.  Free program brochures, booklets, pencils, stickers, car litterbags, student activity books and promotional items are available at our booths.  Educational presentations, activity sheets and coloring contests are just some of the ways our staff interacts with the visitors to our booth.  Local businesses are able to partner with us and sponsor booth contests by donated activity supplies,  gift cards, t-shirts and other prizes.

Outdoor Land Lab

A school field trip type of program sponsored each spring by the Jefferson County Soil & Water Office.  Jefferson County fifth grade students from public, private and home school, teachers and parents, learn about the environment. Our site concentrates on Solid Waste, Litter and Waste and Reduce, Reuse, Recycle activities.  Open to the Jefferson County Schools this four day program is held at the Fernwood State Park rain or shine.  We participate as one of the seven different sites, each with a 20 to 25 minute presentation, along the two mile walking trail.  Twenty-seven presentations are completed during the week with the EnviroScape Landfill Model used at our site to help students understand how landfills work and the importance of proper disposal.  Our goal is to make students, teachers and parents more environmentally conscious citizens and involve 5th grade students with hands on projects pertaining to the environment.

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Trashy Art Fashion Show

Each year students create outstanding art and fashion. These contests help the students realize that not everything needs to go into the trash and helps everyone to celebrate Earth Day.

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Adopt-A-Roadway/Spot Program
The Adopt-A-Roadway program accommodates a wide array of volunteer interests and goals.  Participants adopt public spaces and make a commitment twice a year to clean and beautify the area for one year.  Volunteers are the “P” in Pride by planting flowers, graffiti removal, picking up litter, weeding, gardening and other forms of general cleanup.  Volunteers do make a difference in their community.  Interested in this program? Download the PDF form: Adopt-A-Spot.

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Annual River Sweep Poster Contest & Cleanup

We participate in this poster contest sponsored by ORSANCO each winter the top winners used for posters and t-shirts for the next summers River Sweep Cleanup.  The Annual Cleanup along the Ohio River is held on the third Saturday of every June (Visit ORSANCO for more information).

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“Stock the Pantry Program”

Jefferson and Belmont Counties have taken America Recycles Day one step further.  All our paper proceeds generated as well as some donated by others that are recycled at Valley Converting go to local Food Pantries to help out with purchasing food for the holidays.  The activity runs from November 1st-15th, with public drop off sites at the Ft. Steuben Mall in Jefferson County.

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The Great American Cleanup Campaign

This runs from March 1st – May 31st each year. Volunteers, groups, beautification committees, students, 4-H, Girl/Boy Scouts join in the nation’s largest organized cleanup, beautification and community volunteer improvement program. The volunteers know that they really make a difference, and the results are dramatic! When your area is clean of unsightly litter, residents have a sense of hometown PRIDE and accomplishment.

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Event Tips:

• Pick a spot; visit the site to plan your event.

• Set a date and time and have a rain date planned.

• Recruit volunteers.

• Request trash bags from us.
   

Event Safety Tips:

• Wear gloves, thick-soled shoes, vest and gloves.

• Wear long pant and long-sleeved shirts.

• Wear sunscreen and/or bug repellent.

• Drink plenty of fluids.

• Don’t overstuff litter collection bags.

• NEVER pick up hypodermic needles or sharp objects.

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Paper Recycling Tours

Tours are taken by school students, teachers and parents at the Valley Converting Paper Mill located in Toronto, Ohio.  Mike Biasi, President and Rich Brandt, Purchasing Agent, educate students on how paper is recycled from the beginning.  They start with 100% scrap paper and walk them through the manufacturing process showing them how the end product cardboard is made. The students learn how the paper is converted to different sizes and shipped to the end user who makes legal paper, paper hard back books, and desk calendars, just to name a few.  The tour lasts approximately forty-five minutes, and any school that is interested in this educational tour can contact us to learn more.

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Plant Pride - Not Litter

Activity takes place in April at the Ft. Steuben Mall.  Children and parents participate by painting and decorating flower pots.  After students have finished decorating their pots they also plant flowers and or vegetables to take home.  All materials are donated by the Ft. Steuben Mall and local businesses.  This activity teaches students community participation and promotes individual pride.

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Youth Presentations
Our staff does environmental educational presentations reaching adult organizations; preschool to 12th grade students; teachers; parents; Girl/Boy Scouts and 4-H groups. Videos, worksheets, lesson plans and craft activities are completed during the presentations.  Adults and youths learn how easy it is to do their part for the environment by “Going Green”, through recycling, cleaning up their community and beautification projects, just to name a few.  Visit our Presentations page for more info!

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Junk Journal Making

Create a fun journal with repurposed and recycled materials to capture, collect, and record memories, thoughts, ideas, and inspiration. We take you step by step through building your journal. Embellish and create within your journal by adding memories, thoughts, ideas, and mementos of inspiration. Collecting mementos, pictures, ribbons, buttons, etc. to help make your journal special is encouraged. Basic materials will be provided, however, feel free to bring old envelopes, cards, special papers, junk mail, etc. to add your personal touch.

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Christmas Ornament Making

Activity takes place in December at the Fort Steuben Mall, the day Santa arrives. Children and parents participate by making a Christmas Ornament for their tree. Students can make more than one ornament if they want to or they can take it home to finish making their decoration. This activity teaches students you don't need to spend a lot of money on ornaments and how Christmas ornaments were made in past years. All materials are donated by the JB Green Team, Fort Steuben Mall, and local businesses.

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If you want to join the fun or are part of a group looking for a creative reuse project to get started, please contact Emily Good at (740) 296-5376 for Belmont County or Louise Holliday at (740) 266-6899 for Jefferson County.

GUEST SPEAKERS

Several members of our staff are available to speak at meetings for your community, municipality, township, business, school and other adult organizations to inform meeting attendees of the programs and assistance we can provide and answer questions.

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Subjects that we can discuss include recycling programs for communities and businesses, how you can start recycling, conducting business waste audits, electronic recycling programs and management, household hazardous waste recycling and management, the Community and Comprehensive Grant Programs available, the EPA Waste Wise Program, Community Clean up Opportunities, Litter Free/ Special Events Recycling for fairs, festivals, sporting or music events and more.

EnviroScape Drinking Water Sources, Uses and Wastewater Treatment Model

Purchased through a grant from the Ohio Environmental Education Fund, students can trace the path of water we use in our communities:
• from the river to the water treatment plant
• from the treatment plant to houses and “city” buildings
• from use in the houses and city to the wastewater treatment plant and
• from wastewater treatment back into the river
Presentations explain the importance of clean water and ties into our EnviroScape Landfill Model by explaining how recycling and proper waste management protects not only our land but our water as well.
Standard: Science, Mathematics, English and History
Time: Approximately 45 minutes

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EnviroScape Landfill Model

Purchased through a grant from the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency, the new models are used to do activities such as:

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1. Recycle, Reduce and Reuse

2. Demonstrate a Modern Landfill

3. Landfill Gas

4. Close a Modern Landfill

5. Demonstrate an Older, Unlined Landfill or Old Style “Dump”.

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Presentations explain how to properly dispose of household waste and the importance of recycling properly.

Standard: Science, Mathematics, English and History
Time: Approximately 45 minutes

Paper Making/Recycling

Presentation demonstrates and explains how paper is recycled.
Standard: Science and History
Time: Approximately I hour

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Green Cleaning

Presentation explains the benefits of using environmentally friendly chemicals to clean your house safely.
Standard: Science
Time: Approximately 20 minutes

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Plastics

Presentation includes how dependant we have become on this substance and how we need to properly dispose/recycle/reuse this product. Students explore the different types of plastic and complete activities geared toward each grade.
Standard: Science, Mathematics, and History
Time: Approximately 45 minutes

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Litter Detective

Presentation allows students to develop awareness about litter and how they can help the environment. Students learn the affects of litter on the environment.
Standard: English, Mathematics, and Science
Time: Approximately 45 minutes

Paper Making/Recycling

Presentation demonstrates and explains how paper is recycled.

Green Cleaning

Presentation explains the benefits of using environmentally friendly chemicals to clean your house safely.
 

Reuse Presentations

Presentation explains how to reuse items that would normally be placed in the household trash; giving the item longer life and keeping it from the landfill.

PRESENTATIONS

For more information or to request a presenter, fill out the form below or

contact us at (740) 266-6899 (Jefferson County)

or (740) 296-5376 (Belmont County)

ACTIVITIES & TOOLS

We have many types of activities & lessons that can be used for the young and old.  Listed below are just some of the materials we have available for you. For more ideas, curriculum, and information contact our Education Coordinator.

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Coloring Pages

Celebrate Earth Day or Recycle with our mascots, Jeff & Bel, with these coloring pages that are fun for all ages!

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JB Green Team Mascot mask coloring pages printed out on thicker stock paper and stapled to tongue depressors these Mascot coloring pages make great masks.

Preschool to 3rd grade: Earth Day Coloring Page

Preschool to 3rd grade: Recycling Coloring Sheet

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Puzzles

Jeff and Bel want you to be more aware of your environment with their Crossword and Word Search Puzzles.

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Preschool to 1st grade: Elementary Crossword Puzzle

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4th  to 8th grades: 4-8 Grade Crossword Puzzle

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6th  to 8th grades: 6-8 Grade Word Search

Recycling Quiz

Test your knowledge! Take the Waste Management Recycling Quiz before and after our presentation to see just how much you didn’t know.  Part of the EnviroScape Landfill Model Curriculum.

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6th – 8th grade students: EnviroScape Recycling Quiz

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Paper Making/Recycling

You can do a paper recycling activity at home and see on a small scale how it is done at paper mills.  Part of the Paper Making/Recycling Curriculum.

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Grades 8th to adult: How To Make Paper

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Green Cleaning

Keep your home clean and green while safely getting your kids to lend a hand!  Check out our list of “green cleaning” ideas.  From the Green Cleaning Curriculum.

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High School students to adult: Green Cleaning Sheet

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Plastics

It’s a plastic world! Ever wonder what those numbers mean on your plastic bottles & jugs?  We’ve got the answers.  Have fun creating silly shapes and sun catchers using our shrinkydinks directions.

From the Plastics Curriculum:

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6th grade to adult: Plastics 1 thru 7

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6th grade to adult: Shrinkydink Plastic

Litter Detective Activity

Have fun indoors or out! Search for items from our Litter Hunt List with this activity that is great for groups. From the Litter Detective Curriculum.

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Kindergarten to 4th grade: Litter Hunt Instructions

Maze Activity Page - Can you find your way through?

6th – 12th grades: Maze

HELPFUL LINKS

Visit our Resources page for more information.