Earth Day is on April 22nd this year. Many companies, organizations and classrooms have special things planned for that day. Do YOU have anything special planned for Earth Day this year?
In the past our middle school took the kids on a field trip to the Hudson River to help clean up the shore line. It was shocking to see the things the kids pulled out of the river – from shopping carts to cars! OK… the kids didn’t actually pull a car from the water but they did find a car in the water.
I have heard of schools having field trips to recycling plants for Earth Day. That makes perfect sense. You want children to be knowledgeable about recycling and the importance of doing so.
What about taking students on a field trip to your local dump? Yes… that’s right. I said DUMP.
It seems like a very odd idea, but when you think about it a bit it could be an eye opening experience.
Here is a brief article by Claire Haas, Vice President of Education, Kiddie Academy that talks about this interesting field trip idea.
Earth Day is the perfect time to teach our kids about living a responsible, eco-friendly life. Want to make this year’s Earth Day celebration memorable to your kids? Plan a trip to your local dump or landfill. Before you dismiss this as a crazy idea, think about it. Do your kids know what really happens to trash after it goes in the bin, is taken to the curb and hauled away?
What better way to explain the impact of our actions than by showing the end result? Most communities have some version of a landfill, and it often includes a homeowner area for recycling and disposal. Once your kids see the mountain of trash that most landfills have, they’ll have a strong mental image of why it’s important to recycle and re-purpose whenever possible.
“Teachers use this technique every day – we demonstrate a concept using visual aids. Parents do the same thing when teaching their children to walk and talk. Children learn a great deal by watching and observing,” said Claire Haas.
Claire offers the following tips for an educational trip to the dump:
1. Collect recyclables around your home before you take the trip. Allow your children to place them in the proper containers at the recycling center.
2. Play a gross game of I-Spy. Pick out and identify some of the items you see in the trash containers or in the garbage piles. Talk about how they could have been recycled or re-used.
3. Point out the trucks and other equipment used around the landfill. Even the youngest kids will enjoy watching them. Talk about the jobs done by the workers and the trucks.
4. Review how the items at the dump are sorted. For examples, metals are usually kept in a special bin, as they are easily recycled. What other items are separated? Talk about why that may be.
5. Read books related to recycling before and after your trip. A few to consider: Why Should I Recycle? by Jen Green and The Adventures of a Plastic Bottle by Alison Inches.
I know it sounds a bit odd, but what do YOU think about taking a classroom, or family, field trip to the dump? Do you think it would be very educational?
Do you have anything planned for Earth Day? Do you have any suggestions or ideas on things families can do together to celebrate the day? Feel free to comment and let me know.
For more eco-friendly family tips and ideas visit www.KAFamilyEssentials.com.
For more information about Kiddie Academy visit www.KiddieAcademy.com. \
Kimberly
*I was not compensated for this post. I am sharing this article with permission for the benefit of my site readers. Any opinions expressed are my own unless otherwise noted.
Ari says
I think it would be quite an eye-opening experience to visit a landfill or junkyard. I’ve only been to a metal refinery + junkyard site in my life and it was definitely an eye-opening experience for me, for both my conscience and for understanding how the processing works. I think going to a landfill or dump would be memorable enough that it would leave a lasting impression on anyone, let alone a child. It may make future environmentalists, pioneers and researchers. At the very least, it will perhaps help kids to understand one more piece of the huge puzzle that is the industrial process.
ANN*H says
This would be a great field trip for the kids to see. They can see whats all involved and learn early how to recycle things and why it matters to our earth. Im sure it is interesting even to us adults. thanks for the information
Auriette says
Our landfill in Escambia County holds regular day camps for kids. The campers get a tour of the dump, find out how a landfill works, learn about recycling, and even make a layered snack that simulates the layers of the landfill. And it’s free!