Green Kids Workshops
March 14^th - 18^th, 2011

10 A.M. - Noon ~ Ages 4 & Up 

Facilitated by: Lisa Gerwulf, Assistant Naturalist

Wapsi River Environmental Education Center

Monday 3/14 - Flower Power!

This project utilizes normally discarded cardboard in various forms (egg cartons, paper towel/toilet tubes) to create life-like flowers.  Due to the time needed for paint to dry before assemblage, a separate activity of using plastic bottle bottoms as stamps to create a flower mosaic on paper or acetate sheets is part of this activity and keeps with the flower theme.

Tuesday 3/15 - Signs of Spring

Egg Carton Greenhouse ~ This project utilizes 8-holes of a cardboard egg carton as seed starter pots that can then be planted directly into a garden come springtime.  The addition of a clear, plastic bag creates an almost terrarium-like environment allowing for minimal care.  The project becomes its own science fair project by visually showcasing the water cycle concepts of evaporation, condensation and transpiration.

Owl Scarecrow ~ This project utilizes the left-over, 4-holes of the egg cartons used above by creating an owl face that is then wrapped in aluminum foil (weatherproofing), embellished with yellow plastic tops and black buttons, and then glued to an aluminum pie plate.  Once completed and hung in the garden from a chain of pop bottle plastic rings, the owl acts much in the same way as a traditional scarecrow does - to scare away would-be vegetable nibblers.

Wednesday 3/16 - Games Galore

Tangram ~ This project puts a modern twist on an ancient Chinese game.  Storytelling is an important part of Asian culture and tangrams play a part by providing a tool for illustration.  The use of various math concepts are just part of creating the puzzle and participants of all ages can grasp them.

Tic-Tac-Toe ~ This project utilizes various cardboard and plastic elements to create a old, family favorite.  A cleverly converted entrée box creates convenient storage to make this game vary portable. 

Thursday 3/17 - Heavy Metal Belt

This project utilizes pop can tabs and "plarn" (plastic yarn) to create a belt of retro and Art Nuevo styling.

Friday 3/18 - A Tisket, A Tasket, a Recycled Trinket Basket

This project utilizes a plastic pop bottle bottom as the base for the basket.  Then uses "plarn" (plastic yarn) and pop can tabs to create a decorative edge around the top.

Studio and materials fee:  $5 per workshop per child
(All participants will receive one free pass for "drop in art" and a mini playkit!
Must be registered by 2 P.M. one day in advance of each workshop.  Limit 25 per class.

Register by calling: (563) 289-3946 or email: Angie@reusableusables.org

Reusable Usables Creative Arts Center
322 N Cody
LeClaire, IA  52753

www.reusableusables.org

Recycled Stitches Program Planned

On Saturday, March 19th at 2:00 P.M. the Wapsi River Environmental Education Center will host a recycled stitches program.  Come join naturalist Lisa Gerwulf as she shows you how to create a uniquely versatile yarn from recycled plastic bags.  "Plarn" (plastic yarn) is not a new fad, but rather a frugal technique reminiscent of the Depression Era.  Participants will learn about the plastic industry, plastic's waste-to-energy potential, as well as how to create two versions of "yarn" out of recycled shopping/grocery bags.  Knitted, crocheted, woven, braided and corded items will also be on display.  Those interested need not be fancywork experts to enjoy this program.  Each participant needs to bring 5 plastic shopping/grocery bags and a pair of sharp scissors.  If you have access to a quilting tool called a rotary cutter and mat, consider bringing these.  Pre-registration is required, by calling (563) 328-3286 to reserve your spot.

The Wapsi River Environmental Education Center can be found 6 miles south of Wheatland or 1 mile northwest of Dixon, Iowa by taking County Road Y4E.  Then turn north at 52nd Avenue and follow the signs for about 1 mile.

East Moline, IL/March 1, 2011 - Chad Pregracke's Quad Cities-based environmental group needs volunteers to help in a project to improve the future of area waterways.  Living Lands & Waters, an East Moline, Illinois non-profit organization is planning to distribute 100,000 free oak tree saplings in April as part of LL&W's "MillionTrees Project."  The goal of the project is to improve the health of rivers in the Midwest, by re-establishing hardwoods that have been depleted by over-harvesting, flooding and disease.

Volunteers, including families with children, are invited to take part in tree wrapping events being held throughout March. "Wrapping 100,000 trees takes a lot of work" said Chad Pregracke, founder and President of Living Lands & Waters.  Pregracke adds, "It's a great venue to help the community and educate people on why trees are important."

Trees provide shelter and nut-bearing hardwoods are a viable food source for wildlife and migratory birds.  Slow-growing hardwoods like oaks have a harder time re-establishing themselves without help, and are often crowded out by faster growing species, like cottonwoods, willow and silver maples. Re-establishing hardwoods help increase biodiversity, reduce erosion and run-off and improve water and air quality.

Individual registration is not required, but strongly encouraged.  Groups of 5 or more must pre-register.   Volunteers can stay for an hour or all day.  For questions or to register, please contact Ashley Stover at Ashley@livinglandsandwaters.org or at 309.737.5913.

Tree wrapping events will occur at the following places and locations:

QCCA Expo Center, Rock Island:

Volunteers should show up at the North Hall of the QCCA Expo Center, 2621 4th Avenue, Rock Island.

LL&W Headquarters@ (17624 Rte. 84 N, East Moline, IL)

-March 1-5, 8am - 5pm                                              -March 14-17, 8am - 5pm                           

- March 7-12, 8am - 5pm                                           -March 28 - April 2,  8am - 5pm

Volunteers will be asked to help with the following:  bundling trees in newspaper, placing trees in bags, tying, tagging, or organizing them.  Participating children MUST be supervised.  Volunteers are asked to wear warm and comfortable clothes that can get dirty.

Trees will be distributed in April to individuals, families, agencies, business and organizations throughout the Midwest.  The saplings will also be distributed to the general public during the QCCA Lawn and Garden Show, March 25-27^th on a first come, first served basis. The goal of the MillionTrees Project is to grow and plant 1 MILLION trees.

Anyone interested in volunteering or reserving free oak saplings for planting may contact MillionTrees Project Coordinator, Ashley Stover at Ashley@livinglandsandwaters.org or at 309.737.5913. More information on the MillionTrees Project can be found at www.livinglandsandwaters.org/milliontrees.

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(Davenport, IA) The Davenport Parks and Recreation Department announced today that it will give away free trees and shrubs again this year for Earth Day, on Saturday, April 23rd. The trees and shrubs will be given away at Vander Veer Conservatory between 10am and 12 noon. Several Master Gardeners will be available to teach participants about proper planting and care techniques for the tree or shrub, along with information about supporting wildlife. Tree planting and care information for the public will be available.

"Earth Day marks the anniversary of what some consider the beginning of the modern environmental movement", according to Greg Wolf, Environmental Education Supervisor for the Davenport Parks and Recreation Department. "What better way to show our Department's support of this movement, than to give away trees and shrubs." Trees are donated by the Scott County Soil and Water District and Living Lands and Waters (Plant a Million Trees Campaign). Trees given away will include a variety of oaks, white spruce, red osier dogwood, serviceberry, and others. "Supplies are limited," said Wolf. "Trees and shrubs will be given away on a first come, first serve basis."

Grassley Keeps Pressure on EPA to Focus on Job Creation Instead of Over Burdensome Regulations

WASHINGTON - Senator Chuck Grassley is continuing to highlight the senseless regulations placed on family farmers and small businesses by the Environmental Protection Agency.  Today, Grassley sent a letter to Chairman of the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, Darrell Issa, to bring to his attention the EPA's attempt to regulate dust.

The EPA has released several policy assessments that would lower the particulate matter standards for dust to levels which would be extremely burdensome for farmers and livestock producers. Whether its livestock kicking up dust, soybeans being combined on a dry day in the fall, or driving a car down the gravel road, dust happens. Producers could potentially be fined for not meeting the particulate matter standards while still practicing good management practices on their soils.

"The EPA's attempt to regulate dust is just another example of how out of touch the agency is with the grassroots," Grassley said.  "The continued disregard for agriculture hurts the economic viability of rural America and hinders job creation."

Grassley said he wanted Issa, who is bringing to light hundreds of federal regulations that hurt job creation, to be aware of yet another nonsensical regulation that would slow economic development and cause significant costs on the nation's family farmers.

Here is a copy of the text of Grassley's letter to Issa.

February 8, 2011

The Honorable Darrell Issa

Chairman

House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform

2157 Rayburn House Office Building

Washington, DC 20515

Dear Chairman Issa,

As you know, on January 18, 2011, President Obama signed an Executive Order which required federal agencies to review all regulations, taking into account the costs and excessive burdens they might put on businesses.  A recent Wall Street Journal editorial reported that the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), less than a week after the President signed this Order, stated "that it was 'confident' it wouldn't need to alter a single current or pending rule."  This statement appears pre-emptive of the President's order.

I commend you for scheduling a full committee hearing on Thursday, February 10, 2011 on "Regulatory Impediments to Job Creation."  It is my belief that EPA has long over stretched its bounds, resulting in detrimental impacts to farmers and ranchers across the country.

Last July, I and twenty of my Senate colleagues on both sides of the aisle wrote to Administrator Lisa Jackson with our continued concerns regarding EPA's actions in its review of the National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS).  If approved, the Second Draft Policy Assessment (PA) for Particulate Matter (PM) released on July 8, 2010 would establish the most stringent and unparalleled regulation of dust in our nation's history revising current levels of 150ug/m3 down to 65-85 ug/m3.  Our letter encouraged EPA to consider maintaining the primary and secondary standards, or in the alternative, consider different PM indicators.  We also asked that the Clean Air Scientific Advisory Committee focus attention on EPA's choice to not adopt a PM10-2.5 standard.  I have enclosed a copy of that letter for your information.

I am concerned that EPA has pre-judged its review of existing and pending rules.  The President has now required that cost considerations on businesses, including farmers and ranchers, be taken into account.  I respectfully ask that when your committee meets on February 10, 2011, that the PA for Particulate Matter be discussed.  This would be an opportune time to further highlight and expose this potential rule which could wreck havoc, particularly in the Western part of the United States.

As I have continually advocated over the years, lowering these PM standards could have devastating and burdensome effects on farmers and ranchers across the country. Excessive dust control measures could be imposed on agricultural operations which would only slow economic development and impose significant costs on our nation's family farmers and ranchers.

As I've often said, only God can determine when the wind blows.  Exposing EPA's potential rulemaking in this area of dust control is critically important to the future profitability of our nation's producers. Thank you for scheduling this important hearing and for consideration of my request.

Sincerely,

Charles E. Grassley

United States Senator