Contributed by Patti Fisher, Mid Valley Recycling & Meadow Lakes Community Council
Everyone knows that the way to make a change is to help our youth understand the importance of an issue, and they will grow up as strong citizens. This seems to be particularly true when we think about protecting the environment. Children grasp very quickly the ideas of clean water and clean air.
So, as part of local spring clean-up events, Mid Valley Recycling and the Meadow Lakes Community Council are proud sponsors of a poster competition with a theme of Clean-up and Recycling. Students, age 8 to 14, at Houston Middle School, Meadow Lakes Elementary, Big Lake Elementary, American Charter and Midnight Sun Charter are invited to submit their art to the competition. Individual prize are awarded, plus awards are made to the school’s art program. This is the 4th year we have conducted the competition.
Students are encouraged to use recycled materials to create their art. Some of the materials used in this year’s art include old ceiling tiles, shoe leather and a sock with a hole in the toe. Houston Middle School students are particularly successful in creating very dynamic three-dimensional displays. Some of the poster themes this year are “Never Refuse to Reuse”, “Don’t Be a Pig – Recycle” (with water bottles painted pink) and “If Wall-E can Recycle, so can We”.
Art projects are fun and educational. We believe these children will become the future adults that work to protect our environment.
