Our Future is in Their Hands

It was the Earth Day is Every Day event, hosted by the Peoria County Recycling and Resource Conservation. The halls of the Peoria Civic Center were filled with the sounds of more than 800 third graders, their teachers and parent helpers. My room was located near the registration desk and the great hall area was the place for teachers to get their bearings as they focused on their assigned agenda for the day’s event.

The children were excited to be out of their classrooms, the teachers were hoping to keep track of their charges and me – well I was just taking it all in as I waited for my first class to arrive. I gave great thought to the seriousness of the mission of this event: reaching out to young children with a lesson in good earthly stewardship. This was a big deal and a huge opportunity to make an investment in the future of our earth through our kids.


As a manufacturer of decals, instrument panels and vehicle markings, I shared with my classes that some of our “scrap” could be recycled, and some could not, like our vinyl. Happily I shared with each class the story of Cal, a friend to Muir Omni Graphics, who had spied some of those unrecyclable scraps ready to be carted to the dumpster and ultimately the landfill. He gathered up the whole lot and took his new loot to nearby schools where it was turned it into art, games and play area decorations. I had brought some pictures that day to share with the students. 

Finally, we were down to the real fun, Environmental Bingo.  Instead of BINGO it was now EARTH and each letter represented a group from our Earth –Environment, Animals, Recycling, Trees and Humans. And what better for the bingo chips? Polycarbonate cut outs from instrument panels! As I called out each letter and picture, I could hear an excited chorus of “Yesssss” or a disappointed “ohhhh”. And then---one (or two or even three) jumped up and shouted out the winning phrase “EARTHDAY IS EVERY DAY!” and claimed a beloved plastic tree frog as their prize. It was a great day and I enjoyed it as much as the kids did. 

I am so thankful to have had the opportunity to make a contribution to the investment of Earth and I am looking forward to new year and new group of third graders. Pass it on!