We believe education is the key to lasting transformation toward healthy communities and ecosystems. Our education programs are designed to help schools create an environment where this is possible and encouraged. We want to ensure that today’s youth have the information and tools they need to learn about and take action on the environmental and climate issues we all face.
What do we offer?
Reducing Waste in Schools
RE Sources provides tools and technical support to help Whatcom County schools become more sustainable through waste reduction. We provide waste assessments, consultation services and staff education to identify and reduce waste stream contamination and increase food recovery efforts. Learn more.
Youth Action
For young people across the globe, climate change and environmental degradation aren’t just academic issues, they are crises that impact nearly every facet of life. That’s why RE Sources has developed programs and events for youth activism. Youth for the Environment and People (YEP!) is a one-of-a-kind youth empowerment program for high school students that elevates student voices and gives youth key skills to make change in the world.
Online Lessons and Kits for the Classroom
Learn more about the natural world and experiment with some do-it-yourself projects at home or in the classroom. We have a ton of online lessons and projects available to everyone, and hands-on activities with lessons for teachers in Whatcom County to help teach students about waste.
The 4 R’s Lesson Plan (grades K-2)
Students will learn how to prevent waste from going to the landfills by learning about the 4 R’s (reduce, reuse, recycle, rot) and why it is important.
Timeline of a Spoon (grades 3-5)
Students will build a model of the steps it takes for a plastic spoon to reach the landfill. Through this, they will learn about the energy and resources that are used in the process and will come up with actions people can take to minimize the impact our waste has on the environment.
Classroom Waste Audit (grades 2-3)
Students will learn about what types of things they are throwing away in their classroom trash bins by performing a classroom waste audit.
Cafeteria Waste Audit (grades 4-12)
Students will perform a cafeteria waste audit to learn more about what the students and staff at their school are throwing away at lunch.
How-To Bundle (grades K-5)
This is a bundle of instructions on various ways classrooms can reduce waste. It includes “How to Incorporate Good On One Side paper in the classroom,” “Start recycling crayons,” and more. Note: this is a bundle of instructions only, materials for projects are not included.
Re-Use Bundle (grades K-6)
Students will learn how they can turn items that they would normally throw away into new items. Note: this is a bundle of instructions only, materials for projects are not included.
Beach/Litter Clean-Up (waste reduction emphasis) (grades K-12)
In an effort to reduce the amount of plastics and other litter that reaches the ocean and nearby waterways, students will participate in a litter clean-up of their school grounds or a beach clean-up.
Make your Own Paper (grades 1-12)
Students will take action to reduce paper waste by creating their own paper using scrap paper.