The Year 2011 in Review - From the EHS Point of View

As the end of the year was fast approaching, I was thinking about year 2011 and the wonderful things it had held for Muir Omni Graphics: Partnerships, teamwork, a bright outlook for 2012 and so much more. Yes, it was a good year.

Part One: Partnerships

I had the opportunity to meet with Rebecca Cottrell, The Peoria County Recycling and Resource Conservation Educator, in February to chat about their plans for the year and determine how Muir Omni Graphics might be able to partner up with the Recycling and Resource Conservation department in 2011. This provided me the chance to play Environmental Jeopardy with area sixth graders at the Clean Water Celebration in April and Environmental Bingo with third graders during the Earth Day is Every Day event in October.  In my book, any day spent working with children in the subject Good Earthly Stewardship is a worthy investment. 

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.