Recycling and Waste Management Education

Since 1995, the Black Hawk County Solid Waste Management Commission and The Black Hawk Counthrnclogoy Conservation Board has partnered together to offer free recycling education programs to schools and adult groups in Black Hawk County. This program is based out of Hartman Reserve Nature Center in Cedar Falls.

 

To schedule a FREE youth or adult program please contact:
Lyndsey Anderson tammy

To schedule a FREE School program, contact:

Lyndsey Anderson, Recycling Education Naturalist
(319) 266-TRAC (8722)
lyndsey_hrnc@yahoo.com

To schedule a FREE Adult program, contact:

Tammy Turner , Recycling Education Naturalist
(319) 266-TRAC (8722)
tammy_hrnc@yahoo.com

 

School Programs Offered
A list of new programs and full discriptions coming soon.

vermicompost redworm Vermicomposting (All Ages)A "get your hands dirty" program that shows how nature recycles your garbage. We bring our portable worm bin to your class and demonstrate how to build a homemade bin. Students get a close up view of "red wigglers" at work. (Approx. 30 mins.)
two bin compost Compost Crazy (All Ages) -Get down and dirty at Hartman Reserve Nature Center's working compost bin. Students explore the world of backyard composting by investigating decomposition, food chains, and the tiny critters that turn your garbage into soil. (Approx 30-45 min.) COMING THIS FALL!
green recycle symbol The 3 "R's" (Grades K-4) - Students learn the importance of Reducing, Reusing, and Recycling. Through hands-on activities students will learn about our natural resources, what products are made of, and the proper ways to recycle. (Approx. 30 min.)
sow bug recycler Compost Critters (Grades 2-4) - Get up close and personal with several parts of Hartman Reserve's forest in search of natures recyclers. Students investigate the kinds of "trash" that gets recycled by the plants and animals in the forest and discovers how nature recycles. (Approx. 30 min.)
waste race recycling Waste Race (Grades 2-5) - Students learn to classify items as reusable, recyclable, compostable, disposable, and hazardous in this action packed relay game! This can be done in the classroom or at Hartman Reserve Nature Center. All waste items are clean and safe for students use. (Approx. 30-45 min.)
recycled paper sample Making Recycled Paper (Grades 2 and up) - A hands-on activity that demonstrates how paper is recycled in their home and community. Discover how important it is to recycle and how easy it is to make recycled paper. Students will create a piece of artwork to take home. (Approx. 45 min.)
hartman lunch recycle "Waste Wars" Lunch Recycling (Grades 2 and up) - Students visiting Hartman Reserve Nature Center during lunch learn how to plan and enjoy lunch using a minimum of disposable items. They will sort and recycle as much of the garbage from their lunches. (Approx. 30-45 min.)
pollution recycle Source Reduction Roundup (Grades 3-6) - Similar to the popular game show Family Feud, teams of students learn about the most important "R". They discuss various ways to make a difference and create less waste. Activity covers topics such as pollution, source reduction, and natural resources. (Approx. 45-60 min.)
mini material recovery facility MRF It To MORF It! (Grades 3 and Up) - Students slip on some gloves and get to work sorting recyclables at our portable Material Recovery Facility. This table top unit can be brought to your classroom and simulates how recyclable materials are sorted in a factory. A great activity that keeps the kids active. (Approx. 30-45 min.)
aluminum sample Recycling-Sorting It All Out (Grades 4-6) - This activity helps answer the question "Why do we need to sort all of our stuff?" Throughout this activity students investigate various properties of items (magnetism, density, and mass) and learn how recycling centers use these techniques. (Approx. 45-60 min.)
natural resources used Garbology Game (Grades 4-6) - Students divide into teams and compete in four challenges. Participants use teamwork to learn about renewable and nonrenewable resources, waste reduction, and how nature recycles. (Approx. 30-45 min.)
labdfill model Enviroscape Landfill Model (Grades 5 and up) - Can't take a tour of the landfill but want to know more. This interactive, 3 dimensional model demonstrates how a landfill functions to protect our ground water. It also demonstrates the old style dumps of the past. (Approx. 30-45 min.)
what a waste cereal boxes What A Waste! (Grades 5 and up) - Using various sized cereal boxes, students discover how packaging affects the cost of products we buy. Working in groups, students use math and discuss various ways to reduce waste and save money at the store. (Approx. 40-60 min.)
old bhc scalehouse

Disposal Dilemma (Grades 6 and up) - Using role playing, students imagine that the county landfill is about to close. As taxpayers and community citizens, students try to solve a "real life" dilemma. Students weigh the issues and propose the benefits and problems associated with locating a landfill. (Approx. 45-60 min.)

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Adult Programs Offered

Our adult programs are great for highschool and college students, civic organizations, neighborhood associations, church groups, bank clubs, businesses, and assisted living areas.

Topics include:

recycled symbol Benefits of Recycling
Participants will learn about what is/is not recyclable locally and the benefits of recycling. We will take a look at some of the products made from recycled material and explore the future trends of recycling including e-waste.
environmental fair cedar falls Managing Household Hazardous Materials
Used oil, paint, pesticides, fertilizers, lead acid batteries, and much more are daily necessities but how do we get rid of it safely and environmentally responsibly. Learn how to identify HHM's and how/where to dispose of them locally.
gene and betty buckles program center

Green Building for the Future
Take a look at the growing popularity of "green" construction by touring the Gene and Betty Buckles Program Center at Hartman Reserve Nature Center. Learn about how various techniques and products are conserving resources and operation costs.

east high landfill tour

Guided Lanfill Tour
Strap on your hiking shoes and get a behind-the-scenes tour of the Black Hawk County Landfill. During this walking tour, participants learn about its construction, recycling, and how the landfill is providing wildlife habitat and protecting our ground water. A landfill model is also available if you are not able to take the tour.

food scraps for composting

Backyard Composting
Learn how to use natures way of recycling to turn yard waste and food waste into black gold. Look at various designs of homemade bins, get a close up view of the creatures that make your bin a living community. and explore redwom composting.






Education Links and Teacher Resources

www.earth911.org
www.epa.gov/kids/
www.wormwoman.com
www.dndwormranch.com
www.compostguide.com


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