The Partners Greener Living Challenge Team From left to right City of Bellevue Jennifer Goodhart Wilder Environmental Consulting, contractor for City of Bellevue Sam Wilder Boys and Girls Clubs of Bellevue Carlos Zepeda Yvonne Avalos Nicole Jackson Kristi Murphy King County Housing Authority Ken Nsimbi Patrick Malloy in small photo
Challenge Mission Pilot a challenge for students to learn through hands- on activities, have fun and the opportunity to win. Make it replicable. Provide tools and messaging for students to teach their households in household language. Provide quality, interactive environmental lessons for Boys and Girls Clubs of Bellevue students. Fit KCHA Mission for keeping environmental footprint small on each site and provide quality programs. Reach City of Bellevue mission to reduce waste, reduce water pollution and conserve resources.
The Clubs Three Club Sites participated. Each are located on King County Housing Authority (KCHA) Properties. There are approximately 260 total units for all three properties. 65-70 students per site. More than 200 students total. Kindergarten through 5 th grade. Some students live onsite at the KCHA property and some do not. Languages represented include: English, Spanish, Vietnamese, Hindi
Greener Living Challenge Components 4 week environmental challenge Students learned an environmental topic each week through interactive lessons and completed a challenge item at home. If challenge items for all weeks were met, the club received a pizza party.
Greener Living Challenge Components Weekly format for classes: 30 minutes total 5 minutes to check in on challenge from previous week 5 minutes to introduce new topic 15 for a hands on activity 5 minutes to cover what the challenge item to complete for next week. City of Bellevue provided student prizes and household tools for all 200 students/households. All challenge components were managed by the City of Bellevue and City contractor. The contractor was onsite for all lesson and introduced each new speaker weekly to provide challenge consistency for students.
Week 1: Recycling, Composting and Waste Reduction Taught by Sam Wilder (WEC for City of Bellevue), Jennifer Goodhart (City of Bellevue) and Patrick Malloy (KCHA) Hands-On Activity: Beat the clock team game and kicked off composting for each club. Student Prize: Reusable spork Challenge: Bring home and explain reusable recycling collection bag and signs.
Week 2: Stormwater Taught by Nature Vision Hands On Activity: Landscape Model Student Prize: Color changing pencil Challenge: Bring home and explain carwash coupon, oil change coupon and storm drains.
Week 3: Waste Water Taught by Nate Dickey, City of Bellevue Hands On Activity: Flushable? Team Project Student Prize: Utility Hat, Coloring Book, Stickers Challenge: Bring home and explain sink strainer, zip it and flushable vs non-flushable.
Week 3: Waste Water Let s Try It!
Week 3: Waste Water Results!
Week 4: Energy Conservation Taught by Jennifer Ewing and Interns, City of Bellevue Hands On Activity: Energy Conservation Game Student Prize: Stickers Challenge: Bring home and explain LED bulb and conservation tips.
Family Nights Three Open House events at each club for parent/guardians to visit, learn about the challenge and topics and to get fun give aways. Food was provided by King County Housing Authority Booths were set up by: City of Bellevue Waste Reduction, Recycling and composting. Free reusable lunch kit and compost caddy available. City of Bellevue Waste Water City of Bellevue Storm Water Pollution. Free car wash coupons. City of Bellevue Energy Conservation, Free LED bulbs Puget Sound Energy, Free phone chargers and safety lights
Results All challenge items were met! 200 students received classes on waste reduction, storm water pollution prevention, waste water and energy conservation. 200 households received: Recycling bags Car wash coupons Sink strainers Zip It drain cleaning tools LED bulbs
Survey Results Parents, students and staff were surveyed on the program. Highlights: Students showed an increase in confidence on recycling, keeping water clean and using less energy. Between 85% and 90% of students indicated they thought the classes were fun, instructors were easy to understand and the challenge was fun. At the end of the four week challenge, more than 60% of parents had already used tools they had received.
Exponential Results! Realizing more intersections and now work well together as a team on other items too. Key items: the decision makers, speedy, flexibility, problem solving. Adding composting and boosting recycling at all 12 clubs for more than 900 staff and students. Training of all Boys and Girls club staff Working on ways to reduce food waste and use food from local schools for clubs. KCHA may duplicate the program with other youth providers. WEC presented at Discover U at White Center Boys and Girls Club.
Questions? Contact information Jennifer Goodhart, City of Bellevue, jgoodhart@bellevuewa.gov 425-452-6197 Sam Wilder, Wilder Environmental Consulting, swilder@wilderenvironmental.com 206-949-1787 Ken Nsimbi, King County Housing Authority, kenn@kcha.org, 206-574-1354 Nicole Jackson, Boys and Girls Clubs of Bellevue, njackson@bgcbellevue.org, 425-454-6162 Patrick Malloy, King County Housing Authority, patrickm@kcha.org, 206-574-1139