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Reduce, Reuse, Recycle!

‘Recycle, reuse, reduce’ was the theme today with the Climate NaTURE program at the McKay Elementary. As a way to foster the zero waste concept, we encourage the kids collect recyclable materials at home themselves and bring them to class. We saw their creativity shine as each made their unique recycled art project with what they had collected. From robots, to butterflies, to piggy banks and desk organizers, they used their imagination to make some really cool things. The 5th graders got very creative with an indigenous Mexican-themed craft using sticks collected from the Belle Isle Marsh and recycled t-shirts donated by community residents which were cut into yarn and woven onto the two sticks to create a diamond-shaped design. They decorated them with other recycled or natural materials for a finishing touch. It was a very fun project for the kids and teachers alike!’

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Education

Greenway & Stormwater

Friday, March 22, climate educators from the Climate NaTURE program took the McKay Elementary 5th graders for a walk on the East Boston Greenway on a rainy day (with ponchos, of course!) to the harbor to explore what happens to the rain on the Greenway. We observed and talked as we walked to point out how vegetation along the Greenway absorbs the rainwater (or not). The children had some great questions about green infrastructure and made some very insightful comments about implementing some better solutions to absorb extreme stormwater as well as flooding from storms. We made it to the East Boston waterfront and back (a bit soggy) but had a refreshing walk and talk about improving our Greenway from further climate impacts.  We also discussed the temporary flood wall that the City of Boston is ready to deploy under the Maverick Street overpass and how many homes it would protect.