The following hands-on, multimedia presentations are available to any school, public or private, in Whatcom, Island and Skagit Counties. RE Sources presents these free programs on behalf of the Northwest Clean Air Agency (NWCAA).

"Global Warming - You Make The Difference"
Global climate change is a complex problem, but the solutions are simple. RE Sources will help students understand the greenhouse effect and how human contributions affect climate change.
Students play a unique board game that keeps them entertained and engaged while helping them understand that, by making certain choices, they can play an active role in solutions to global warming.
Designed for grades 5-7, this program can stand-alone or act as a great supplement for a unit on weather, climate or the environment.

Click here for Global Warming- Presentation Materials

"Breathe Easy"
With the help of such activities as an interactive story,
an entertaining video, role-playing and some cool science demonstrations, students in grades K – 7 understand what air pollution is, what makes air pollution and how their individual choices affect air quality. For each topic, students receive information to take home to their families, and the teacher receives follow-up activities.

Click here for Breath Easy- Presentation Materials

To schedule a presentation, contact RE Sources at 360-733-8307 in Whatcom County or 1-800-760-8434 in Island and Skagit Counties. Contact us via email at Schools(at)re-sources(dot)org.

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Recycling and Waste Reduction

The following hands-on, multimedia presentations are available to any school, public or private, in Whatcom County. Our recycling and waste reduction programs are offered with funding support from the Whatcom County Solid Waste Division.

All presentations are 30-45 minutes for primary grades and 1 hour for third grade and above.

"Garbology 101"
Designed for grades K-6, these presentations make age-appropriate use of puppetry, storytelling, games and poems to convey the problems with garbage, the solutions to those problems and how students can make a difference by reducing, reusing and recycling their family's trash.

Click here for Garbology 101- Presentation Materials

"Got Pulp?"
Students love getting up to their elbows in a vat of paper slurry! They make one-of-a-kind paper treasures while learning about the connections between recycling, reuse and resource conservation.
Papermaking is available to grades K-6.

Click here for Paper Making- Presentation Materials

"Hey Waiter, There's a Worm in My Dirt"
Whether y ou already have a worm bin in your classroom, are interested in building or procuring one or are just intrigued by worms, this p resentation is for you! Students use microscopes, scientific drawing and our portable worm bin to learn how composting fits into the larger waste reduction picture. Available to students in grades 3-6.

Click here for Composting- Presentation Materials

"Toxin' Trash"
Most households have a variety of hazardous products hiding around the house (the average family has over 60). Through an interactive group game, students learn how to identify potentially hazardous materials and how to properly use, store and dispose of them. They also get a chance to prepare and use safer alternatives made from non-toxic household supplies such as salt, vinegar, baking soda and elbow grease.
Available to students in grades 3-6.

Click here for Toxin' Trash- Presentation Materials

6th Grade Recycling Unit - "Garbologists In Training"
With the help of such things as live worms, paper pulp, and our own version of the popular game “Jeopardy,” 6th graders gain in-depth knowledge about waste reduction, recycling and hazardous products during this week-long program. The 5-contact unit includes each of the presentations listed above, as well as a final wrap-up and review day.

For each topic, students receive information to take home to their families, and the teacher receives follow-up activities.

All presentations are 30-45 minutes for primary grades and 1 hour for third grade and above.

To schedule a presentation, contact RE Sources at 360-733-8307 or Schools(at)re-sources(dot)org.

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Cool School Challenge

The Cool School Challenge is an innovative program that motivates students, teachers and school districts to reduce carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gas emissions schoolwide.  By conducting audits of classroom energy, solid waste, and transportation behaviors, students identify opportunities to improve efficiency, reduce waste and shrink their carbon impact.  Participating schools in Washington State and around the country have reported potential greenhouse gas reductions of more than 1,788,000 pounds of carbon dioxide!

Check out these "Eco Tips" from a Whatcom County Cool School Challenge team. While the carbon dioxide reductions and dollar savings numbers they give might not be totally accurate, they make an important point that conserving energy and reducing waste saves money and reduces greenhouse gas emissions.



"The Challenge was an opportunity to decrease our carbon footprint by making small changes like turning off the lights and power strips.  Not only did the students learn from this experience, but even teachers confessed they had no idea these changes could make a difference." (10th Grade Student)

Visit the Cool School Challenge program page for more information.


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Workshops

Information on upcoming workshops coming soon!

Past Workshops:

Cool School Challenge and Eco-Schools USA Workshop
Saturday, March 5th, 9am-3pm
Padilla Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve
10441 Bay View-Edison Road, Mt. Vernon

Workshop Update

On March 5^th, RE Sources’ YouthEducation program partnered with

the Northwest Clean Air Agency, Padilla Bay National Estuarine Reserve and Eco-Schools USA to conduct a climate change teacher training.  Five teachers from Skagit and King counties attended the day-long workshop. 

The Cool School Challenge engages students, teachers and school districts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and utility bills school-wide. Through improved energy efficiency, reduced consumption, increased recycling and changes in transportation choices, Challenge participants learn how simple actions, taken together, can create a world of difference.

The Eco-Schools USA program, hosted by National Wildlife Federation, provides a framework to help educators green their school building, school grounds and curriculum. The Eco-Schools USA program can help improve academic performance, lead to financial savings for schools, and help students and teachers develop stronger relationships with the environment and their communities.

The workshop also included a session on the connections between humans, estuaries and climate change.

“I really enjoyed seeing this framework to help bring more environmental awareness to my building,” said one teacher participant.  Another participant from Little Mountain Elementary in Mount Vernon has already begun implementing the program with her 4^th graders; they have pledged to reduce their school’s carbon dioxide emissions by 1,000 pounds per school year.

 

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