Reducing waste is important today, but more importantly, for each child who participates. Their future is dependent upon what they do now. The Tap and Stack program also reaches beyond our school. Students take the information home about what is happening at school with this program. This could make a difference by having families decide to participate in a recycling program. Lastly, what a difference in the amount of waste leaving the building every day!! We have cut down on the number of bags being removed and will even use one less garbage (dumpster) for collection in the near future. This program is easy, educational, and has an impact on students and families in our community. It is a win-win situation.”

These are the words of Dr. Mary Ellen Reeves, Principal of Fullerton School in Addison – the latest school to join in the Tap ‘n Stack savings plan (a lunchroom waste reduction plan that represents a REAL savings for your school). We truly appreciate Dr. Reeves taking the time to let us know what this DuPage County-funded program means for her students, her school, and the entire Fullerton community. Call 545-9710, to learn more about Tap ‘n Stack & to schedule a free teacher modeling program.
Our Motto: It’s “tray chic” to tap and stack!

The Tellabs Foundation supports programs to encourage environmental awareness and the protection of our natural resources. We are thrilled to announce SCARCE is the recipient of a $15,000 grant from the Foundation. This grant supports our energy education efforts. Specifically, with the funds we have developed an exciting new program, the “E- Rally” school assembly for grades K-6, to bring energy education directly into schools. Our pilot program will be available to 27 elementary schools in DuPage. Next year, we plan to extend the program to more elementary-level schools in the county.

• Expand or improve your environmental or science ed program
• Discover the model that lets your students “see” groundwater & how it moves
• Build a sand-filled Plexiglas model
• Learn how to use the hands-on groundwater flow model with your class
• Receive the model and supplies worth about $500 (Public Middle & High School Teachers)
• All others (Public Elementary, and Private & Parochial K-12 Teachers) are invited to learn how to use the model to borrow for their own students
• Encourage colleagues to join you, so the model really gets used in classrooms around school

• If you want a fascinating experience, you can hop on the bus with SCARCE educators
• Visit “green” buildings-and be in the know about this important new approach to building design
• Discover the “gem” of Chicago’s green buildings: The Center for Green Technology
• Closer to home, climb up to the roof at Lyman Woods in Downers Grove – more stops, too
• Learn about healthy indoor air; energy efficiency; conserving resources; beautiful landscapes, tile, carpets, etc. made from recycled materials; much more at your own home & workplace
• Help prepare all your students, especially those interested in environment, construction, design, architecture, engineering, landscaping, technology, government and future city
• We guarantee you’ll be the most interesting “table topics” person at lunch the next day!

Call us, 545-9710, to register for these Workshops or the Recycling Tours at the Environmental Sustainability Center, Route 53 & Roosevelt Road, Glen Ellyn

Teachers, your families, and your students of all ages – everyone is invited to the one-of-a-kind Environmental Sustainability Center in Glen Ellyn for an entertaining, educational recycling tour on Presidents’ Day. See colorful new displays that have been designed to highlight products made from recycled materials, and dozens of clever “trash to treasure” crafts fashioned from throwaways! Learn about exciting new technologies and tour the expanded space for Book Rescue, Tools for Schools and Super Crayon projects.

Children can make a piece of recycled paper to bring back home, as others explore the two new resource rooms. Check out the Watershed Model, or hop onto the Energy Bike to feel just how much energy it takes to generate electricity, as you compare the energy needed to light up incandescent vs. fluorescent light bulbs!

Two tours have been scheduled for Monday, February 19: 10-11:30 AM and 1-2:30 PM. Tours are free of charge (all community presentations are funded by DuPage County’s Environmental Committee), but you must call to register, 545-9710, as space is limited.

TEACHERS, FEEL FREE TO PASS THIS OPPORTUNITY ON, IN YOUR PARENT NEWSLETTER

Project submission deadline: February 17th
The National Energy Foundation invites all K-12 educators to participate in its 6th annual Igniting Creative Energy Challenge, a competition designed to promote student interest in energy conservation and the environment. The theme Igniting Creative Energy, and “an understanding of what an individual, family, or group can do to make a difference in their home or community” must be reflected in students’ entries. Entries may take many forms: documented science projects, essays, stories, artwork, photographs, music, video, or web site projects. All entries must be postmarked by February 17.

A Grand Prize winner will be chosen from each of four divisions: K-5, 6-9, 10-12, and “K-12 Educator.” Each of these student winners (along with one parent/legal guardian) and the educator winner (with one family member) will travel for a fun and educational trip to Hawaii from April 10-14. Winners will also journey to Washington, DC, to participate in the National Energy Efficiency Forum in Washington DC on June 12-13, where they will share their challenge entries and ideas with energy and government leaders. To download entry form and learn more about the Challenge, visit the Igniting Creative Energy website:

The Illinois Emergency Management Agency (IEMA) has just launched a program, the Orphan Source Recovery Program (Middle School and) High School Initiative, to help schools safely dispose of unwanted radioactive materials. (”Orphan sources are radioactive material that has been abandoned, found or entered the commerce of scrap material without being able to identify its origin.”) It is not unusual to find radioactive materials (usually chemical compounds containing uranium or thorium and small radioactive sealed sources) in physics and chemistry labs, and properly stored, they pose little hazard to students or staff. Sometimes, the materials have gone unused for years – even decades – but schools are uncertain how to properly dispose of them.

IEMA contacted all public and private middle and high schools at the beginning of this school year, and at least 42 Illinois schools have requested pickups. There is no cost to schools to participate in IEMA’s program, although it would cost each of them about $1,000 to use a commercial service. The program is already rolling along; IEMA has already removed unwanted radioactive materials from Glenbard East HS, Lombard; Jefferson JHS, Woodridge; Timothy Christian Schools, Elmhurst; and Wheaton- Warrenville South HS. Any Illinois school with radioactive materials can call 217-782-1329 for more information about IEMA’s collection and disposal initiative.

In several ways, Chad Pregracke can be compared with another famous Missourian, Samuel Longhorn Clemens (Mark Twain): both were raised on the shores of the Mississippi; as young men they worked on river barges; both developed especially passionate ties to the river; and according to those who know him personally, Chad shares one of SLC’s most endearing attributes – an incomparable sense of humor. Chad is certainly making his Mark on the history of the Mississippi River!

Growing up on the Mississippi, Chad noticed the condition of the river was deteriorating, due to the accumulation of trash on the shorelines. Based on his concern, he set out to make a difference, one piece of trash at a time. While still a student, Chad founded the non-profit environmental organization, Living Lands & Waters, which has developed into a powerful force with several employees, a fleet of barges and workboats, a $600,000 annual budget, many big corporate sponsors, and a volunteer army of several thousand people. Chad has earned many prestigious awards for his public service, including the Presidential Jefferson Award for Public Service, from First Lady Laura Bush in 2002. He estimates that he and his crew have removed more than 2,000,000 pounds of trash since the organization’s inception in 1998! For more about Chad and his organization, wade into www.livinglandsandwaters.org. Margaret Mead’s words truly describe Chad and his small yet mighty team: Never doubt that a handful of committed people can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.

Children’s author Megan McDonald has written a series of delightful award-winning books that follow the adventures of Judy Moody, a third grader “with plenty of attitude.” In Judy Moody Saves the World (the third in the series of eight), the heroine becomes environmentally-aware and decides to “whip the planet into shape.” Young readers will laugh out loud when Judy enters a band-aid decorating contest with her “Heal the World” message, and teachers will appreciate the classroom activities and other resources they can download from the author’s website - ISBN: 0763720874 (Reading level: 9-12 years old)

Interest in green building is certainly growing! Last month, Ripples reported on the growing popularity of green building and highlighted a venture in Fort Wayne, Indiana and several in Chicago. Move over, Mayor Daley! Towns throughout our County – Villa Park, Downers Grove, Lisle and Naperville, to name a few – with funding assistance from the DuPage Stormwater Committee – have been sitting up and taking notice of the many benefits of sustainable design for some time now! Two exciting new projects in the county are well into the planning stage:
ADDISON PUBLIC LIBRARY is planning to build a new 54,000 sq. ft. library on its village campus. A part of the construction project being proposed is a 5,300 sq. ft. green roof system. “The system is designed to slowly percolate stormwater through the growth medium, reducing contaminants in and delaying runoff of water from the roof’s surface until after the time of peak flow, providing time for the other area stormwater management systems to handle other uncontrolled runoff. In addition to its primary benefits, a green roof system will also help to reduce the cooling load on the building during the summer months and will also extend the life of the roof system below the growth media.” (Project cost: $100,750; County/Federal share: $20,150)
ELMHURST COLLEGE is planning on redeveloping its campus, which will include the construction of a 170-bed residence hall and a permeable parking lot w/sustainable design features. The new residence hall will be constructed as an energy-efficient building. A 100% permeable parking lot, bioswales, native landscapes, rain gardens, several types of runnels to move overflow rainwater aboveground, and cisterns that will capture and recycle rainwater will be incorporated into the sustainable campus design. (Project cost: $23,678,766; County/Federal share: $116,525)

Teachers interested in green buildings – be sure to check out page 2 and sign up for our upcoming Green Building Workshop and Tour, Friday, March 2, from 8AM-2PM.

A river seems a magic thing. A magic, moving living part of the very earth itself. - Emily Dickinson

The theme for 2007 World Water Day is “Coping with Water Scarcity.” This year’s theme echoes the overall goals of the United Nation’s “Water For Life Decade: 2005-2015” – the importance of cooperation, and the necessity for the international community to adopt an integrated approach to water resource management, “to ensure (water’s) sustainable use for generations to come.” Information covering a myriad of water issues such as the degradation of groundwater and surface water quality, equity and rights, interregional and international disputes; and age-level appropriate videos, games, events & other educational resources are available at the Water for Life Decade website.

Boundaries don’t protect rivers; people do.
- Aristotle

More than 250 community and business leaders, elected officials, scientists, architects, health professionals, students and citizens attended DuPage County’s 4th Environmental Summit on January 10, at Benedictine University. A variety of exhibits (Forest Preserve District of DuPage County, The Conservation Foundation [TCF], ComEd, GM, SCARCE, etc.) were open throughout the day. The audience was welcomed by County Board Chairman Bob Schillerstrom and TCF President & CEO Brook McDonald.

This year, speakers focused on how to save energy – and help the environment along the way. Sharon Hillman, a Vice President at ComEd, spoke of the company’s “CARE Initiative” (Customers’ Affordable Reliable Energy), ComEd’s energy education and assistance program for residential and business customers; and Rich Gunter of General Motors brought the audience up-to-date regarding future fuels.

The company that makes the TV ads of all those gorgeous decks that bend and curve their way down the mountainside or to the beach, Trex, has signed on with Lowe’s to sell its decking and railing products at the home improvement stores. Trex manufactures its products primarily from recycled plastic grocery bags, reclaimed pallet wrap and waste wood. Trex’s claim to fame: it gives the buyer the best qualities of both plastic and wood: “The plastic shields the wood from moisture and insect damage, so there’s no rotting or splitting; the wood protects the plastic from UV damage and gives a deck a solid, natural feel.” There’s no need to stain or paint it – ever! You can practice the 3 R’s as you” hit the deck” with Trex, if you’re in the market for a fence, a deck, or some new outdoor furniture!

FYI: Trex-made benches that never need maintenance can be found at schools and parks across the land. For more, log onto:

The Gym Shoe Rescue Project will be up and running, yet again this spring. Schools, churches, businesses, scout groups, individuals – everyone is welcome to donate to our athletic shoe collection. The Rescue will run from Monday, April 28 to Friday, May 25; the drop-off site will be the Environmental Sustainability Center, SCARCE headquarters in Glen Ellyn.

Last year, 63 schools and organizations collected 7,405 pairs of athletic shoes: 2,015 gently- used pairs were donated to local charities for reuse; the remaining 10,779 single shoes were recycled through the “NikeGO” Project, and are now “appearing” as footballs & Frisbees, and as running tracks, soccer pitches, football fields, and basketball & tennis courts at a park or schoolyard near you! Look for details in next month’s newsletter or jog onto our website (link below).

The success of this program is contingent upon a volunteer force (high school and older) to help sort, count and box the shoes. Please call us, 545-9710, to sign up or learn more about volunteering.