EDUCATION & AWARENESS

 

Our education and outreach programs can be utilized in a variety of ways by all members of the community.  We can provide:

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  • school curriculum

  • recycling crafts and activities

  • recycling tours

  • awareness booths

  • presentations​​

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Our staff is active in our local communities and schools with a goal to promote and support recycling programs, education and awareness for all ages.  We participate in and sponsor several activities, events, and contests throughout the year.  Our hope is that residents find these activities enjoyable as well as educational and can learn the importance of reducing, reusing, and recycling.

 

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 other 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.

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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.

 
 
Outdoor Land Lab
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A program sponsored each spring by the Jefferson County Soil & Water Office.  Fifth grade students from Jefferson County meet to learn about the environment. Our focus is on Solid Waste, Litter & Waste, and Reduce, Reuse, & Recycle activities.  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 Contest
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Each year students create outstanding art and fashion through recycled items. These contests help the students realize that not everything needs to go into the trash and helps everyone to celebrate Earth Day.  The Annual contest is open to all Jefferson and Belmont County students in grades K-12.  Participants complete their projects using only materials from home that would otherwise be disposed of or recycled.
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Adopt-A-Spot 

The Adopt-A-Spot 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.  Volunteers plant flowers, remove graffiti, pick up litter, weeding, gardening and other forms of general cleanup.  Volunteers do make a difference in our community!
 
Interested in this program? Download the PDF form: Adopt-A-Spot.
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Annual River Sweep Poster Contest & Cleanup
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We participate in this poster contest sponsored by ORSANCO each winter. The top winners are used for posters and t-shirts for the next summers River Sweep Cleanup. (Visit ORSANCO for more information).
 
The Annual Cleanup along the Ohio River is normally held on the third Saturday of every June.  This year,  The Ohio River Sweep program will support "Mini-Sweeps". 
  • Mini-Sweeps must be conducted in groups of 10 people or fewer, in compliance with state and local COVID-19 mandates. 
  • Participants may coordinate a volunteer cleanup anytime between May 1, and October 31st, 2021. 
  • The Ohio River Sweep Program will provide supplies:  t-shirts, gloves, and trash bags. 
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Please contact Louise Holliday at 740-266-6899 (Jefferson County) or Alisha Teramana at 740-296-5376 (Belmont County) for more details or to sign up! 
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The Great American Cleanup 
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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 our area is clean of unsightly litter, residents have a sense of hometown pride and accomplishment!  Runs from March 1st – May 31st annually.
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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 Tour

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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. Any school interested in this educational tour can contact us to learn more.

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Plant Pride - Not Litter

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Activity takes place each Spring in both counties.  Children and parents participate by painting and decorating flower pots.  After decorating their pots they also plant flowers and/or vegetables to take home.  Materials are donated by the Ft. Steuben Mall and other local businesses.  This activity teaches students community participation and promotes individual pride.

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Stock the Pantry 
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Jefferson and Belmont Counties have taken America Recycles Day one step further.  All of our paper proceeds from recycling at Valley Converting go to local Food Pantries to help out with purchasing food for the holidays.  The program runs from November 1st-15th, with a public drop off site at the Ft. Steuben Mall.

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Christmas Ornament Making

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Children and parents can participate by making a Christmas Ornament for their tree with recycled items.  This activity teaches students that you don't need to spend a lot of money on ornaments and also how ornaments were made in past years. All materials are donated by local businesses.

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Presentations


Our staff conducts environmental educational presentations reaching both adults and youths alike.  Learn how easy it is to do your part for the environment by “going green” through recycling, cleaning up our community and beautification projects.

 

 Visit our Presentations page for more info!

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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 Alisha Teramana at (740) 296-5376 for Belmont County or Louise Holliday at (740) 266-6899 for Jefferson County.

 

GUEST SPEAKERS

Our staff is available to speak at meetings for your community, municipality, township, business, school and other adult organizations to inform of the programs and assistance we can provide and answer any questions.

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

 
EnviroScape  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
This presentation explains 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 EPA, the model is used to do activities such as:

  • Recycle, Reduce and Reuse

  • Demonstrate a Modern Landfill

  • Landfill Gas

  • Close a Modern Landfill

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

This presentation explains 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 shows 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
 

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)

Thanks for submitting!

 

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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Thank a Recycler:  Coloring Page

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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.