Today's education always includes the three R's: Reduce, Re-use and Recycle. Did you grow-up knowing so much about being green? I know I didn't, but with the amount of trash and industrial waste generated today (4.6 pounds of solid waste per American per day), we realize creative solutions are needed to preserve our eco-systems. One way to do this is to change how we think about trash.

This month in Hands-on-Nature, students learn about how trash created by humans effects eco-systems and how we can help reverse the build-up of solid waste. First, there is a puppet show where "Litterbug" learns how to reduce, re-use, and recycle things such as coffee cups, paper towels, newspaper, and aluminum cans instead of throwing them out.

Then the students get a visit from "Professor Lozzarotta" and her magic time machine to see how long it takes for different kinds of trash to disintegrate. Although it only takes a couple of months for fruit and vegetable remains to turn to soil and a year for newspaper to biodegrade, plastic forks and glass bottles never biodegrade, even after 100 years.

Finally, the students get to the hands-on activity of making their own recycled paper. The students pick different colors of pulp made from waste in the recycling bin and water blended in a kitchen blender. They add their own touches or designs with cookie cutters and dried plants. This activity reminds us that every child likes to create and make something new. We all want to make our mark on this world - let's just create more hope and inspiration than waste.

Hands-on-Nature is a statewide program through the Four Winds Institute. It is funded by the PTO and Box Tops for Education. You can drop-off box top labels at the library or Shelburne Community School.