School News You Can Use – March, 2017
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IN LIKE A LION . . . ?
INSIDE THIS ISSUE
- CLUB Conference News – Call for Award Nominations; Brochure Ready
- CLUB News – NRRA Compost Bin Sale
- Grant & SWIP News – Introducing 3R’s of the Common Core and Teaching Toxics Resources
- In The News – 20 Good News Stories in 3 minutes
- Contests, Scholarships & Fundraisers – NWF/Subaru Gardens for Schools
- EPA & NHDES News – Conserve Water & Have Fun!
- Activity – 101 Uses for Old Maps!
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CONFERENCE NEWS
Sneak Peek at the School CLUB Conference Schedule:
Conference Brochure Now Available – Click HERE
We have lined up our speakers and workshops for the School CLUB Conference on May 23! Prepare to be amazed! From composting to student leadership to planning your Earth Day celebration – we have something for everyone!
Of course we’ll have activities, exhibits, games and our Mini-TOLD to round out a full day of activities!
To help with the registration fee, NH schools may apply for Conference Registration Grants through
NH the Beautiful!
Ready to register?
Schools may register their group on one Registration Page. However, please attach a separate list including all the printed names and designations (teacher, student, principal, etc.) for the Conference Badges.
Click HERE to download the School Conference Registration Page!
WANTED: Your Award Nominations for the 8th Annual School Recycling Conference
Does your school have an individual, program or event that deserves special recognition for outstanding work in recycling? Above are just some of the award categories to be considered. Choose one of the above, or come up with your own category.
Winners will be announced and recognized at our Conference Awards Luncheon on May 23.
Please follow this link to the School Award Nomination Form. Deadline for nominations is March 17, 2017.
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CLUB NEWS
Calling All Schools . . .
Milford Middle School Seeks Honest Kids Pouch Brigade
We received the following request from our friends at Milford Middle School in NH:
They have been collecting Capri Sun drink pouches for years through the 
Terracycle brigade. Unfortunately, that program was discontinued on 12/31/16.
Honest Kids has a pouch brigade but there is a waiting list. Are there any schools in the New England area that are already signed up with the Honest Kids program that would be willing to take Milford’s collection until they can get on the Honest Kids program?
Please contact [email protected] if you can help!!
Many thanks for helping out and keeping their pouch recycling program going!
Back by Popular Demand …
NRRA’s 2017 BACKYARD COMPOSTING SALE!!!
Our Annual Backyard Composting Sale is Back, Please help us 
make it bigger and better than ever!! If we want this sale to continue each year…we need your help and participation!! If you wish to participate in this year’s sale PLEASE send in your Participation Form no later than February 20th!
OVERVIEW/DETAILS
NRRA is pleased to offer its annual compost bin sale once again. As in the past, you can offer these for sale to your residents or other folks at your cost, or you can use this as a fundraiser. NRRA will still assist groups with providing promotional poster and order form templates.
Due to transportation/logistics, all orders must be made in full pallets. (see participation packet for pallet sizes). All pallets will be direct shipped to their final destination, and all pricing will include shipping. If you are unable to commit to ordering full pallets, we encourage you to work with another group or town in your area and share the order.
We will collect orders through Friday, March 24, 2017. All payments collected by you should be made out to your group. Final payment to NRRA should be made in one check from your group to NRRA.
It is your choice whether you sell these at cost or use this even as a fundraiser. Even if you are selling at the fundraiser prices, pricing for all items is still well below retail costs. So unlike other fundraisers, you are offering a great value for the dollar.
Items you can buy…..
#1 SELLING COMPOST BIN!
- Converts grass, leaves and table scraps into an abundant supply of rich garden soil
- Large 80 gallon capacity
- Reduce the amount of garbage you generate by 25% or more
- Easy, snap together assembly
- 10 year warranty
- Made from recycled plastic
- Twist locking pest-resistant lid
- Free Instruction Manual with each Bin purchase
- Assembled dimensions – 33″x35″
SYSTERN RAIN BARREL
- Saves water & cuts household sewage treatment
- Can cut water bills up to 40%
- Excellent water source for lawns & indoor/outdoor plants
- Free from chlorine & other water treatment chemicals
- Large 55 gallon capacity
- Made from High Density Poly-Ethylene with up to 50% recycledplastic
- Tan color blends into landscape
- Mosquito mesh keeps out bugs and leaves
- Easily attaches to your existing downspout system & has overflow capability to another Systern or to ground run-off
- Accessories included
KITCHEN SCRAP PAILS!!!
- Attractive & easy to use
- Hinged lid snaps securely to pail
- White & beige color
- 2 gallon capacity
- Pail width easily accommodates the shape of plates for “mess free” scraping!
COMPOST TURNER
- Turns compost without resorting to the traditional back-breaking job of removing & reloading by shovel
- Simply plunge the Compost Turner into the compost pile; as it is withdrawn, the heavy-duty blades open to aerate & turn the compost
- Sturdy, professional quality
For more information contact us at [email protected] or 603.736.4401 ext. 10 or to sign up fill out the Participation Packet (click here)
To Download the Final Group Order Form, Click HERE
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GRANT & SWIP NEWS
Introducing our New Curricula . . .
Classic K-12 Recycling Activities with 21st Century Standards
NRRA’s School CLUB is pleased to announce that the newest editions of their school curricula 3R’s of the Common Core: A Teacher’s Resource Guide to Solid Waste and Recycling and Teaching Toxics: Creating Solutions to Household Pollution are ready for distribution! The former Association of Vermont Recyclers (AVR), a leader in Vermont recycling education programs, originally created these publications 25 years ago. In 2012, the CLUB assumed ownership of AVR’s school resources and materials. Last year, NRRA received funding from a USDA Rural Development grant program to update this outstanding curriculum. It now aligns with the national common core standards and is non-state specific. The intent was to correlate the standards to the lesson plans as originally written. This proved to be an incorrect assumption. Most of the lessons were revised and the Information and Resources sections upgraded, but the authors upheld the original concepts and objectives.
Everyone who participated in the teacher trainings held during the production of the new editions will be receiving their training packets (CLUB classroom workshop modules including TT and the 3R’s) very soon. We thank you for your patience and participation in helping us develop NRRA’s Train the Teachers program. Anyone else interested in this program and receiving Teaching Toxics: Creating Solutions to Household Pollution and the 3R’s of the Common Core: A Teacher’s Resource Guide to Solid Waste and Recycling, please contact NRRA Programs Coordinator, Gwen Erley, at [email protected].
Rutland County SWAC SWIP Outreach Begins
Free Star Assessments for Schools
Vermont – NRRA’s School Recycling CLUB began our school outreach efforts on behalf of the Rutland County Solid Waste Alliance Communities (RCSWAC). We met with six Rutland County schools on March 1 & 2. Our goal is to assist with Act 148, Universal Recycling compliance.
RCSWAC Member towns include: Benson, Chittendon, Fair Haven, Middletown Springs, Pawlet, Rutland Town, Shrewsbury, Sudbury, Tinmouth and West Haven.
School outreach consists of a Star Assessment and School Recycling Scorecard. There is no cost to the schools thanks to RCSWAC is funding.
We are scheduling appointments for the final four (not NCAA) schools for a one hour walk through after March 15. To get on the schedule, please contact The CLUB at [email protected].
White River Alliance Solid Waste District SWIP Work Continues
Free School Workshops and Technical Assistance
Vermont – We continue to provide workshops to schools in the White River Alliance Solid Waste District in Eastern/Central, VT.
Alliance communities include: Barnard, Bethel, Granville, Hancock, Pittsfield, Rochester, Royalton and Stockbridge.
School outreach consists of four workshops and two technical assistance trainings. These are being paid for by the Alliance so there is no cost to the schools.
Would you like to host a TOLD, Garbage Guerrillas or another Workshop at your school? Let the CLUB Help!
- Improves academic performance, especially in science and math
- Can lead to financial savings for schools
- Decreases the school’s carbon footprint through practical solutions that reduce energy and water consumption
- Reduces school waste and conserves natural resources
- Encourages student environmental awareness and stewardship
- Increases parental involvement
- Helps students and teachers develop stronger relationships with their communities
School CLUB set up for TOLD event
Previous EPA EE-funded research at over 200 New England schools completed by the NRRA School Recycling CLUB (the CLUB) found that the single most challenging area for school recycling programs was in providing curriculum integrations that brought recycling and sustainability into classrooms to be used as the subject matter for meeting state and local curriculum standards. The intention of the CLUB programs is to address just that issue in schools across all six New England states. Our goal is to use the CLUB’s workshops and technical assistance programs, all experiential and hands on, as a tool for educating K-12 students about consumption, proper diversion of waste, the resulting impacts on climate change and what they can do to change it. Through these offerings, we are also afforded the opportunity to link these priorities to curriculum standards. In addition, these workshops will model, for educators or community leaders, exemplary ways of teaching in creative, effective, and efficient methods about human health threats from environmental pollution as well as how to minimize human exposure to preserve good health. Click here to learn more or contact us at [email protected] or call 1.603.736.4401 ext. 19
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IN THE NEWS
From our friends at Waste Advantage Magazine
Children’s Artwork Featured on Refuse Trucks Helps Raise Recycling Awareness
January 24, 2017
In September 2016, the City of Lake Worth, Florida initiated a unique recycling awareness contest; Lake Worth’s Refuse Division invited all four elementary schools in Lake Worth, FL to participate in the city’s recycling awareness project, in which the winning artist’s design would be ‘wrapped’ onto two new refuse trucks that were acquired from Scranton, Iowa-based manufacturer New Way®.
For the whole story, CLICK HERE.
From our Friends at Waste360
Colorado Middle School Aims to Save its Composting Program
By Mallory Szczepanski
Kinard Core Knowledge Middle School in Fort Collins, Colo., takes waste reduction seriously. So much so, in fact, that it has an impressive composting program and a year-long class elective dedicated to environmental awareness, sustainable living practices and service-learning. But although the class and composting program have made great strides, Kinard’s school district, Poudre School District, has been forced to cancel the school’s composting program due to the fact that the utility cost of composting increased because the program’s partner GSI Waste was losing money from transportation costs.
From our Friends at Curiosity
20 Good News Stories You May Not Have Heard
Here is an inspiring montage of good news that will brighten any day! Click on 
this link to the Curiosity Face Book page:
https://www.facebook.com/curiositydotcom/videos/1558339554193856/?pnref=story
From our Friends at NH Audubon:
NH Audubon Offers Free Events in March
US National Park and Wildlife Refuge Slideshow
March 21 @ 7:00 pm – 9:00 pm
Loon Center,
Lee’s Mills Road
Moultonborough, NH
Bobcat photo by Andy Greenwood. Andy and Beth Greenwood US National Park and Wildlife Refuge Slideshow. Andy and Beth Greenwood, Keene NH residents, have made a hobby of capturing digital wildlife images. This passion involves local and distant opportunities to respectfully photograph nature. They have been successful at capturing a variety of wildlife images and this year marks the fifteenth year of enjoying the best hobby in the world. Andy’s favorite photo subjects are brown or…
Concord Area Waterfowl Field Trip
March 25 @ 8:00 am – 12:00 pm
McLane Center,
84 Silk Farm Rd.
Concord, NH 03301 United States
Join Bob Quinn on this traditional waterfowl tour in the Concord area. Sightings in prior years have included Northern Pintail, American Widgeon, Snow Goose and Gadwall. Please note that we are going back to a morning trip rather than an afternoon trip. Meet at the McLane Audubon Center. Contact: Bob Quinn at [email protected].
For NH Audubon’s full event calendar, go to: http://www.nhaudubon.org/calendar/
Not in NH? To find your local Audubon program click HERE.
From our Friends at National Wildlife Federation:
NWF Road to the Final Fur
(CLUB note: You can still vote for the Champion!)
This year, to celebrate National Wildlife Week, NWF will be traveling the road to the Final Fur. We’ve got 32 native North American species facing off for glory in the wildest bracket you’ve ever seen. So get your voting fingers ready and mark down the following dates in your calendar:
Round 1, 32 teams: February 27th – March 6th
Round 2, 16 teams: March 7th – March 10th
Round 3, 8 teams: March 11th – March 12th
Round 4, 4 teams: March 13th – March 14th
Championship Round: March 15th – March 16th
Winner Announced: March 17th
These 32 North American native species aren’t just fierce competitors, they’re also available for adoption! Symbolic adoption, that is. Symbolic adoptions support the National Wildlife Federation’s work conserving and protecting North American wildlife, while helping you learn more about your favorite animal (and as you’ll see below, some of them come with very cute stuffed animal replicas). Click through the photos to symbolically adopt one of our Final Fur competitors!
Ready to vote? Make your bracket picks now!
From our friends at Waste Advantage Magazine
SWANA Offers Free Student Membership in 2017
The Solid Waste Association of North America (SWANA) is pleased to announce that it now offers free membership for full-time undergraduate and graduate college students as a means to grow the future of the solid waste and recycling industry. Beginning in 2017, eligible students now have a no-cost opportunity to engage with a network of more than 8,500 professionals to learn more about the solid waste and recycling industry, to interact with potential employers, and to connect with peers who have similar study and career interests. “By providing college students free membership in SWANA, they will have a transparent view of the industry they are studying and may, one day, pursue a career in,” stated Darryl Walter, SWANA’s Director of Membership.”
Here’s what the Green Team Schools of Massachusetts are up to:
Hello GREEN TEAM Teachers!
More than 50,000 students from 257 schools across Massachusetts are participating in THE GREEN TEAM so far this school year! See the Participating Schools list if you’d like to network with other teachers in your area.
You have not yet registered for THE GREEN TEAM 2015-2016 school year. (Registration does not carry over from one year to the next.) It’s not too late to register! Register now so you can submit a Teacher Response Form (TRF) reporting the environmental activities your students have been doing. Submit your TRF online or mail in the printable version by March 31 so your students can receive prizes to recognize their work.
For more news on The Green Team, link to their newsletter HERE, or check out their website HERE.
From our Friends at Upper Valley Lake Sunapee Regional Planning Commission
For more information on how to make your own, non-toxic cleaners, click HERE.
cliparts.co
Interested in green cleaning? If you would like to host a workshop in your school, please consider The CLUB’s Healthy Home, Clean Waters Workshop or our Technical Assistance Training for facilities staff on Green Cleaning & Indoor Air Quality Evaluation & Review.
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Contests, Scholarships & Fundraisers
From our friends at Children’s Museum of Indianapolis
2017 Power of Children Awards
The Power of Children Awards celebrate young people in Grades 6 through 11 
who help to make the world a better place. Over the past 12 year, 60 winners from 39 cities, 15 states and 49 different schools have made an enormous impact. Past award winners include youths from diverse backgrounds who have a common attribute: the ability to see a need and to develop a project to meet that need.
The awards are judges on four separate categories: Need, Achievement, Impact and Further Empowerment. Four to six winners are chosen each year to receive the following:
- $2,000 Grant
- Partial four-year Post-Secondary Scholarship
- Recognition in The Power of Children: Making a Difference exhibit
- Honor and recognition during a special awards event on Nov. 10, 2017 at the Children’s Museum
Make a difference today. Nominate a youth in Grades 6 through 11 for a 2017 Power of Children Award. Both adult nominator and youth statements must be submitted electronically. The deadline is midnight, March 19, 2017.
For further information, or to submit your nomination, go to: https://www.childrensmuseum.org/about/power-children-awards
From our Friends at National Wildlife Federation:
NWF/Subaru Gardens for Schools
We’re teaming up with Subaru of America for the 2017 Subaru Loves the Earth program this April. Hundreds of Subaru retailers across the country will be displaying a trunk full of items that show how important (and easy!) it is to create a garden that attracts and supports wildlife — and these elements could be yours, free!
Each participating Subaru retailer will deliver the garden elements straight to your school for your installation! Five lucky schools will also win an educational assembly featuring the National Wildlife Federation’s own celebrity naturalist and real life wildlife ambassador David Mizejewski!
Don’t miss your chance to create a garden at your school, fill out your information today for your chance to win!
The winners will be notified in April so the deadline is March 24 for online submissions. Click HERE to register.
If you have any questions about the program, please email [email protected]
Great American Can Roundup Update
(Nov. 15 to April 22)
Dear Great American Can Roundup School Recycling Champions,
As the Great American Can Roundup School Challenge celebrates its 7th year, 
the Can Manufacturers Institute looks forward to recognizing the top recycling per capita schools in each state and the District of Columbia with cash awards. This is a CANtastic way to show your true green spirit.
Register today at http://www.canroundup.com/login/, if you have not already. Raise money for your school/activities, score for the planet and recycle your way to the GACR leader board. It is easy, fun and there is time. The School Challenge runs from America Recycles Day (Nov. 15) to Earth Day (April 22) for collecting aluminum cans. Take your cans to the recycling center and upload your receipts by April 28, 2017. Winners will be announced in May.
From our friends at the National Wildlife Federation
Photo courtesy of Kathrin Swoboda
National Wildlife’s 46th Annual Photo Contest
Continuing a long tradition of showcasing some of the world’s best nature photography, NWF’s 46th annual contest opened for entries on January 9, 2017. The deadline for entries is March 20, 2017.
Prizes: Experienced judges will select winners, awarding a grand prize of $5,000 and cash prizes to first- and second-place winners in each of seven categories. Winners will also be published either in print or online and receive other recognition.
Categories: Baby Animals, Backyard Habitats, Birds, Landscapes and Plants, Mammals, Other Wildlife, People in Nature.
Consider donating: Photographers retain ownership and rights to their images, though we encourage you to consider donating some of your images to the National Wildlife Federation to help us save the world’s treasured wildlife species and their habitats.
For the gallery of 2015 winners, go to: http://www.nwf.org/PhotoContest/Contest-Details/2015-Winners.aspx
For Photo Contest Details: http://photocontest.nwf.org/menu-home.aspx?comp_id=AA757BF0-9221-4B68-9453-A2242755951E
Please Note: Entry Fee: Enter up to ten photos for $20.00. No limit to the total number of images. Your fee helps support NWF’s work to protect wildlife and wild places.
- Grand Prize: $5,000.00.
- First Place: $500.00 for the winner in each category.
- Second Place: $250.00 for the second place in each category.
- Honorable Mentions: Each will receive a National Wildlife Federation calendar.
The Paradigm Challenge was created by Project Paradigm, a private foundation, in collaboration with American Red Cross
$100,000 Challenge
What is the Paradigm Challenge?
The Paradigm Challenge is an annual competition that inspires youth to use STEM skills plus kindness, creativity, and collaboration to make a difference. The 2016-17 Challenge aims to generate new ideas to reduce waste in homes, schools, communities, and around the world.
- Ages 4-18
- Ideas to Reduce Waste (Reduce, Reuse, Recycle)
- Deadline: May 1, 2017
Mini-Contests – up to $500 – Acts of Kindness
- Create a video, poem, story, drawing, photograph, or anything else that captures one of your acts of kindness.
- Upload your entry (or entries) to tell the world about your kindness. Then ask friends, family, and everyone else you know to vote for your entry. The entry and voting deadline for the current public voting contest is December 31, 2016.
- WIN! The 10 entries with the most votes will win cash prizes up to $500!
Project Paradigm will host different public voting contests to help raise awareness about waste and to promote The Paradigm Challenge. Youth will create and submit a contest entry and ask friends and family to vote. The 10 entries with the most votes will receive cash prizes up to $500.
- Three Ambassadors (along with a parent or guardian) will win a 4-day/3-night trip to Los Angeles to attend The Paradigm Challenge Prize Ceremony.
- Ambassadors will compete in three age divisions: Ages 4 to 8 ● Ages 9 to 13 ● Ages 14 to 18.
The top Ambassador in each age division will win the trip to Los Angeles. - The first 100 Ambassadors to earn at least 100 points will receive an official Challenge Ambassador t-shirt. All Ambassadors who collect at least 50 points will receive a Challenge Ambassador Certificate.
Educator Teams can win grants up to $5,000
Other School Grant Opportunities
(Collected from NWF Eco-Schools Newsletter)
DonorsChoose.org – Can list on site up to 4 months
eschoolnews.com
http://www.donorschoose.org/about
Helps classrooms and students in need
DoSomething.org – DoSomething.org offers many ways to earn scholarship money.
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EPA & NHDES NEWS
Fight the Drought and Have Some Fun!
From our Friends at NH DES-NH is for Water:
Play the EPA’s WaterSense Game to test your knowledge and help conserve water!
For more great ideas on saving water, check out the EPA’s Soak Up The Rain page!
Don’t forget to celebrate World Water Day on March 22!
From our Friends at NH Dept. of Environmental Services:
Discover WILD NH Day Set for April 29
CONCORD, N.H. — Save the date! The snow might be flying, but spring is just around the corner, and with it comes the NH Fish and Game Department’s popular outdoor festival, Discover WILD New Hampshire Day. This free community event is set for Saturday, April 29, 2017. It takes place from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on the grounds of the Fish and Game Department at 11 Hazen Drive in Concord, NH. Admission is free.
Discover WILD New Hampshire Day is a fun way for the whole family to explore New Hampshire’s wildlife resources and outdoor traditions. Browse educational exhibits presented by environmental and conservation organizations from throughout the state. See live animals, big fish and trained falcons. Try your hand at archery, casting, fly-tying and B-B gun shooting. Watch retriever dogs in action. Get creative with hands-on craft activities. Plus, check out the latest hunting and fishing gear and gadgets.
Discover WILD New Hampshire Day is hosted by the New Hampshire Fish 
and Game Department and sponsored by the Wildlife Heritage Foundation of New Hampshire, Fish and Game’s nonprofit partner (www.nhwildlifeheritage.org).
Watch for more details about Discover WILD New Hampshire Day at www.wildnh.com.
Want to learn more? Photos of previous Discover WILD New Hampshire Day events are available at www.wildnh.com/events/dwnh-gallery.html
From our friends at NH DES
NH DES Composting Brochure
Want to learn more about composting? The New Hampshire Dept. of Environmental Services has produced a very concise brochure of the basics.
Click HERE to view the PDF.
EPA’s WasteWise encourages organizations and businesses to achieve sustainability in their practices and reduce select industrial wastes. WasteWise is part of EPA’s sustainable materials management efforts, which promote the use and reuse of materials more productively over their entire lifecycles.
To learn more, go to WasteWise Fact Sheet.
As part of EPA’s Food Recovery Challenge, organizations pledge to improve their sustainable food management practices and report their results. The FRC is part of EPA’s Sustainable Materials Management Program (SMM). SMM seeks to reduce the environmental impact of materials through their entire life cycle. This includes how they are extracted, manufactured, distributed, used, reused, recycled, and disposed.
To learn more, go to: EPA FRC
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ACTIVITY
101 Uses for Old Maps (OK, 9 uses)
We found these great ideas through our friends at Pinterest by searching for “recycled” and “maps” – just click on a picture to view the gallery and be inspired:
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- GIFT TAGS
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- CAN COVERS
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- BRACELETS
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- PHOTO TINS
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- GIFT BAGS
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- PICTURE FRAMES
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- WALL ART
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- COASTERS
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- FURNITURE
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GREEN CALENDAR
03/22/17 – World Water Day – To plan your event, visit www.unwater.org.
04/22/17 – Earth Day – To plan your event, see future newsletters and visit www.earthday.org.
04/28/17 – Arbor Day – To plan your event, visit www.arborday.org.
04/29/17 – Discover Wild NH Day – Join staff of NH Fish & Game for a day of activities and family fun. For more information, go to: http://www.wildlife.state.nh.us/events/dwnh.html
05/06/17 – VT Green Up Day – For more information, visit: http://www.greenupvermont.org/
05/22/17 – NRRA’s 36th Annual Recycling Conference & Expo Begins – For more information go to our Conference Page.
05/23/17 – School CLUB’s 8th Annual School Recycling Conference (the Conference within the Conference); Registration assistance available for NH schools through NH the Beautiful.
06/05/17 – World Environment Day – To plan your event, visit www.unep.org.
06/08/16 – World Oceans Day – To plan your event, visit www.worldoceansday.org.
Wishing you all a Happy St. Paddy’s Day!
happinessishomemade.net
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WHAT IS YOUR SCHOOL CLUB UP TO? The NRRA School CLUB always loves to hear what its members and other schools are doing to recycle and help the environment so we can share it through our newsletter. There are so many different things being done, and you are our best source of information about what is working in your school. It can be a new program, a long-term project that’s been proven over time, a field trip, etc. Always feel free to contact me or submit something and you may see it in the next School News You Can Use! – Gwen Erley, [email protected] 1-603-736-4401 Ext. 19