By DOUG GRAVES
Ohio Correspondent

DAYTON, Ohio — Most people’s trash is normally picked up at the roadside each week and seldom given a second thought. But Soil and Water Conservation Districts (SWCD) in west-central Ohio want to show it all doesn’t end at the curb, by offering a two-day workshop that dives into the changing world of recycling, composting and re-using.

Trashy Trends, a professional development workshop for educators, will be Aug. 2-3 at the Upper Valley JVS Applied Technology Center in Piqua. This workshop will combine aspects of curriculum from “Windows on Waste,” “Project Learning Tree” and “Project WILD, Science and Civics.”

“Our Soil and Water Conservation District office holds workshops every year and we pick a different topic each season,” said Kristen Lauer, SWCD education/information specialist. “This year we’ve decided to pick a topic that attendees can take back into the classroom.”

Participants will learn how the trash system actually flows. It will allow teachers to inform students how they can influence the stream and how it’s all connected to natural resources.

Classroom study will be the concentration of the first day of classes, with speakers from the Miami County Sanitary Engineering Department and the Champaign/Shelby Solid Waste District. On day two attendees take to the outdoors with enhanced field trips, such as to a company leading the way in recycling most of its waste.

The field trips will help participants gain an understanding of how much trash there is, where it goes and how it can be reduced, reused or recycled. “The field trips will give attendees an idea of what these companies are doing to help the environment,” Lauer said. “This is a real-world experience for them and not just head knowledge or academia.”

The hands-on portion of the workshop is geared toward K-12 teachers with breakout sessions specific to various grade levels. Some of the lesson plans include: Making Your Own Landfill, Making Recycled Paper, Lifecycle Hopscotch
“Making a landfill involves the use of a bottle and can be taken into the classroom,” Lauer said.

“It’s a little project everyone can do.”

Educators will gain 12.5 contact hours for attending the two-day workshop. One semester hour of graduate credit is available from Ashland University, at additional cost.

“Recycling and composting has become mainstream,” Lauer said. “It’s a growing trend nowadays. A session on composting and companion gardening will make these topics come alive and help provide relevance to the curriculum.

“Companion gardening is starting to make a comeback. It’s something our grandparents used to do.”

The workshop fees are $35 for Aug. 2 and $45 for Aug. 2-3. Fees include meals and materials. Registration is limited to the first 40 participants. Registration closes July 25.

The workshop is sponsored by Shelby, Miami, Montgomery and Darke Soil and Water Conservation Districts. For more information, contact Lauer at 937-854-7645 or email LauerK@mcohio.org