Through classroom projects, community partnerships and national recognitions, our mission is to improve air quality, create a safer environment, and teach a more gentle interaction with the planet and to inspire a greater awareness of the Earth and our human impact for our students as well as their teachers and families. Our goal is to turn Earth Day into a daily habit. It’s about fun and designing a school as healthy and Earth friendly as we can imagine it to be. Our volunteers have an infectious enthusiasm that invites people to the possibilities of what can happen when we stop dreaming and start believing, stop talking and start doing! A core team of 5 to 10 volunteers are needed to carry on and design the various environmental programs. 5 extra volunteers will be needed for assisting specific events.
International Walk to School Day – October 7
Bonny Slope is going to celebrate International Walk to School Day, and promote safe walking and bicycling throughout the year. Check out http://www.walktoschool-usa.org
Our Walk to School Day is just a part of the bigger picture of what we see for Bonny Slope in the years to come. Our team has been collecting data about how students are transported to school in hopes of receiving funding for future sidewalks and trails through the Safe Routes to School program. This organization enables community leaders, schools and parents across the United States to improve safety and encourages more children to safely walk and bicycle to school. In the process, programs are working to reduce traffic congestion and improve health and the environment, making communities more livable for everyone. For more information visit: http://www.saferoutesinfo.org/
Earth Week – April 19-23
Earth Week is a special opportunity to celebrate and reeducate the students and staff on the programs already in place at Bonny Slope as well as introduce new environmental goals and activities.
No Waste Lunch & Snack Program
If your student packs a lunch or snack, use reusable containers & utensils, cloth napkins, and reusable drinking bottle. If your student buys lunch encourage them to eat what they take so they reduce food waste and take a drink in a reusable bottle instead of a plastic bottle.
Here’s a handy site full of tasty no-waste lunch ideas: Laptop Lunches: http://www.laptoplunches.com/
Anti-Idling in the Parking Lot Program
Have you ever sat in the Bonny Slope parking lot with your car idling as you wait for your child after school? If so, you’re someone who can make a difference in the air quality around the entrance to the school and reduce our national carbon footprint one car at a time. It’s no longer true that you save money by keeping your car idling. Our cars are much more efficient with their electronic fuel injectors. If you’re going to be stopped for more than 10 seconds, it’s best to shut off your engine. Remember this rule and we’ll all enjoy the clean air…we’re sure our kids, especially those with breathing challenges, will appreciate it!
For more Anti Idling facts and tips, visit Oregon Toxics website: http://www.oregontoxics.org/benzene/no_idle.html
EcoPhones – Electronic Recycling Program
Bring your old, used electronics into school to be recycled. This includes laptops, cell phones, digital cameras, ink jet printer cartridges and iPods (no desktop or tower computers, monitors or printers please). We’re working with a great organization called EcoPhones that will pay Bonny Slope for these recycled items and they will responsibly remove and destroy all hard drives. To learn more, go to http://www.ecophones.com
Green School Program
In April 2009 BSE successfully achieved Green School Status through the Oregon Green Schools Organization because of the many environmental programs and practices taking place at Bonny Slope. Click here to see our accepted application including our waste audit and goals. Because BSE is an official Green School, five of our 5th graders will be invited to attend the Green Summit on March 5. Now we are working toward the next level of Merit Certification. For more information about the Oregon Green Schools Organization, go to http://www.oregongreenschools.org
Organic Community Garden
We’re excited to get this program off the ground this year! We will be working alongside the students, staff and surrounding community on an organic garden on the Bonny Slope campus. It’ll be located on the upper level above the playground. We’re excited to begin digging in this spring and experiencing the many tasty fruits and veggies that grow from our efforts. It’ll also become a big help in reducing school food waste with the composting program. Watch for more info about the garden spring 2010!
Our Favorite Resources
We love how these websites are educational and also informative on how we can make a difference one family at a time.
Great Pacific Garbage Patch: http://www.greatgarbagepatch.org/ or click here for additional information
One of the largest oceanic garbage swills in the world. It is roughly the size of Texas, containing approximately 3.5 million tons of trash. Shoes, toys, bags, pacifiers, wrappers, toothbrushes, and bottles too numerous to count are only part of what can be found in this accidental dump floating midway between Hawaii and San Francisco.
The Story of Stuff: http://www.storyofstuff.com/
From its extraction through sale, use and disposal, all the stuff in our lives affects communities at home and abroad, yet most of this is hidden from view. The Story of Stuff is a 20-minute, fast-paced, fact-filled look at the underside of our production and consumption patterns. The Story of Stuff exposes the connections between a huge number of environmental and social issues, and calls us together to create a more sustainable and just world. It’ll teach you something, it’ll make you laugh, and it just may change the way you look at all the stuff in your life forever.
Healthy Child Healthy World: http://healthychild.org/
We are a 501(c)(3) nonprofit inspiring parents to protect young children from harmful chemicals.
Center for Health, Environment & Justice: http://www.chej.org/
28 years of keeping the American promise – building strong, healthy and safe communities.
Oregon Environmental Council: http://www.oeconline.org/
From the inception of the modern environmental movement, the Oregon Environmental Council staff and volunteers have worked across the state to advocate on behalf of all Oregonians. Our notable results have made Oregon a healthier, cleaner place for all of us, and for the generations to come. Below are some of our key achievements.
Solarize Portland: http://www.solarizeportland.org/
The Solarize Portland project hopes to help Portland residents overcome the logistical hurdles of going solar powered at home = Who to hire? What to buy? What to budget? Where to start? With Solarize Portland, interested neighbors are joining forces to conquer the pick, purchase and install process as a team.
Friends of CPO 1 Cedar Hills & Cedar Mill of Oregon: http://www.cpo1friends.org/
Citizens Participation Organization supporting community development in the areas of connecting neighborhoods, transportation, Cedar Mill Town Center, Natural Resources, Governance, Noise, Light & Aviation as well as Aging and disability.
If you are interested in learning more about the Earth Sustainability or interested in becoming a volunteer or, please contact:
Julia Fulmer
julia@thefulmers.net
