Franklin County Elementary Schools Create Litter-Free Zones
Last fall, Bluegrass Greensource environmental educators worked with students in Franklin County to address the issue of litter in their community. Fourth grade students at seven participating elementary schools spent two days with Greensource educators in their classrooms, learning about the effects of litter and other nonpoint source pollutants on our environment and our waterways. They concluded with a project where the students created their own aerial view maps of their school grounds, and used the maps to mark areas with stormwater runoff and litter, while conducting a litter clean up. County and city high school and middle school students participated in litter cleanups on their school campuses throughout the spring as well, collecting over twenty pounds of litter in total.
This fall, all county and city schools were given a sign designating each school’s grounds as a litter free zone. This sign was designed by Second Street School 7th grade student Jacqueline DeMers. Jacqueline entered a litter art contest, along with 100 other students from the city and county schools, for which students were asked to create a logo to display on school grounds. Jacqueline’s drawing was among the top 3 entries that were voted on during a social media contest in December 2013, and received the most ‘likes’ on Facebook. Her original artwork was turned into an aluminum sign with funding from the Franklin County Solid Waste department. Thanks to Jacqueline and all the other Franklin County students, all school zones are now litter free!