tossed, but not
forgotten
Have you ever heard the saying "one man's trash
is another man's treasure?" Some kids in Northwest
Arkansas are taking that saying to heart. They're having
fun while taking care of the earth, with a 4-H project
that literally turns litter into art.
most kids know about recycling and how things we
throw away (cans, bottles and paper) can be made into
new things. but have you ever thought about reusing
items to make art? How about turning trash into a
sculpture?
Some kids from the Apple Spur 4-H club in
Northwest Arkansas did just that recently. They had
fun cleaning up the earth and being creative too, in a
program called "Tossed." The program was created
by Linda Simpson, Program Assistant for Urban
Stormwater of the benton county Arkansas extension
Service. Linda wants to help kids learn about litter and
how it affects our environment.
"The kids are excited about picking up litter,
wondering what they will find and figuring out how all
the pieces will fit together for a sculpture," she says.
First, kids and their parents picked up litter in their
communities here in Arkansas. They spent a few hours
cleaning up all sorts of trash: empty bottles, papers, cans
and more. Then the fun part began. They made crazy
sculptures out of the trash they found! They entered
their works of art in the benton county Fair and Secchi
day sculpture contests. People voted for the winners.
Linda says not only is litter ugly to look at, but it's
very bad for the environment in Northwest Arkansas.
Trash finds its way into our creeks, streams and rivers.
It hurts wildlife. It costs money for cities. It creates
unnecessary work for the people responsible for
cleaning up public spaces. Linda hopes the program
will help kids and adults learn how to make the earth
a better place to live and protect the water we
need to drink, take a bath,
wash our dishes and more.
Now, the kids are busy
picking up more litter to
get "supplies" for the new
sculptures they'll make and
enter in the next year's
benton county Fair. Anyone
can participate in "Tossed."
Adults or children can enter,
individually or in groups. Your
sculpture must be made only
out of litter that has
been picked up in the
community. clean up the
earth and have fun being
creative too!
For more information
contact Linda at
lsimpson@uaex.edu
or call (479) 271-1060.
4-h kids turn trash into treasure
By Karen Rice • Official Kids Mag
10 • Official Kids Mag • december 2018
