Explore Ecology

Over 800 environmental lessons were conducted by Explore Ecology staff for approximately 20,000 people, nearly all students. An additional 10,000 elementary age students were educated through Explore Ecology's school gardens program. Lessons focus on waste diversion (reduce, reuse, recycle and compost), water quality, school gardens and nutrition. Environmental education lessons are presented to groups from local schools, after school and summer camp groups, as well as some groups of college students and adults. Through this environmental education program, Explore Ecology helps local governments and school districts reach their goals of educating the community about environmental sustainability.

Over 5,000 students participated in art activities with reuse materials as part of their education field trips, in-class lessons and virtual lessons. These experiences helped to increase their problem solving skills, which has been shown to lead to improved educational performance. Through the summer of 2021 Explore Ecology staff provided art programming in the school gardens for students participating in summer school programs. Beginning in september, art programming in the school gardens continued at specific sites to allow students to engage their creativity using natural materials in the outdoor classrooms. Explore Ecology supports local artists by providing reuse materials and educational opportunities, both virtual and in person. In april of 2021 the art from scrap store resumed its regular operations providing low cost or free art materials to community members and groups.

Reopening the art from scrap creative reuse store in april of 2021 allowed the program to resume, receiving donations from over 200 businesses and individuals. Over 18 tons of materials were diverted from the landfill while educating businesses about reducing and reusing their excess materials. 25 schools serving about 5,000 students participated in the free materials program, incorporating reuse items suitable for art, science and other curricular uses into their schools. Youth groups, artists, parents and the public participated in and learned about the waste diversion technique of reuse through the art from scrap reuse store, where over 200 people per week shopped for alternative, creative reuse materials.