Children in Cambria County have access to a very unique experience each summer. The typical summer camp experience of old has been in a nature setting with activities like volleyball, fishing, hiking and boating—all mixed with a little bit of camaraderie.

The Cambria County Solid Waste Authority puts a different spin on the concept of summer camp. Kid’s don’t stay overnight, and the camp lasts only 4 days, but they do learn some very important concepts and have a great time playing with some new friends.

Recycling Camp is a 4-day experience where children between the ages of 5 and 10 learn about reducing, reusing, and recycling, among many other important environmental concepts.

The idea behind summer recycling camp is to provide the children with a better understanding of how garbage affects our daily lives. From lessons on composting to illegal dumping, the Recycling Camp experience teaches the youngsters that garbage never just goes away.

This year’s camp, dubbed “Recycling Camp 2004” by CCSWA Education Coordinator, Tim Dull II, carried on the long-standing tradition of offering up fun activities for children that they might not find at any other summer camp. Although this was Dull’s first experience in a summer camp environment, the children all had a great time making crafts from ordinary items found around the house.

Throughout the 4-day experience, children reused CD’s to make Dreamcatchers, egg cartons and plastic bags to make flowers and soup cans to make cat and elephant pencil holders. The students experienced a first-hand look at a mock-recycling process by transforming shredded bits of used paper into recycled paper plant pots which can be used and planted straight into the ground.

When asked what their favorite part of “Recycling Camp 2004” was, Maria (age 5) replied, “crafts, and I liked making paper the best...it was fun mushing it up.” Ryan (age 8) said the “Tim, the teacher” was his favorite part.

“I was very pleased with the results of the camp,” says Dull. “The kids were able to relate the various waste problems to their own lives and experiences and come up with some very interesting ideas to curb the problems. Some of their solutions were really good.”

Cambria County’s recycling education campaign includes school presentations, quarterly newsletters, and maintaining the Cambria County Solid Waste Authority’s website. Preparations for Recycling Camp 2005 are already in the works.

8/13/2004