IISG education team members Robin Goettel and Terri Hallesy partnered with Angie Viands of the Field Museum’s Earth Force Program, along with students and teachers within the Calumet community to raise awareness about properly disposing of pharmaceuticals and personal care products (PPCPs).
Windy City Earth Force is part of the museum’s Calumet Environmental Education Program (CEEP). Earth Force is a program that engages 7th and 8th grade students in action projects to address environmental issues in their community.
Ms. Pettis’ 7th grade students’ goal was to find out about potential health concerns for humans and animals caused by PPCPs and to find out what health concerns may lurk within our water supply.
They produced several informational items to help raise awareness about how people contribute to pollution. Those items included:– Letters to stakeholders, including businesses, legislators, and environmental organizations (including National Resources Defense Council and Illinois Department of Agriculture) about contaminates in the waterways and the importance of water quality standard improvements.
– Fliers to distribute to the public, as well as family and friends about the issue of contaminants and how they can make a difference in their community.
– Posters in local businesses and churches with the message “Stop Pollution in our Water: be green, stop pollution, and save our Earth.”
– School-wide surveys to determine the pollution tolerance index rating for various aquatic species.
– E-mail messages to editors at Southtown Star newspaper and Treehugger.com requesting them to publish their classroom project.
Ms. Millner’s students created a poster display, “Don’t Trash it! Bag It!” They had researched disposal methods for medications, hair care products, and cellphones.
In addition, they developed a flier about how to help dispose of medications including the location of the nearest police station collection box.
This “Undo the Chemical Brew” education project is funded through the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative. Check out the latest information by visiting www.unwantedmeds.org.
