NatureBridge Brings Trash Talk into Classroom with Launch of MyGarbology
SAN FRANCISCO, Nov. 15, 2011 /PRNewswire/ – America Recycles Day – NatureBridge, the largest residential environmental education partner of the National Park Service, today announced the launch of MyGarbology, an interactive online game and resource center that answers the question, “where should my waste go?” Available at www.mygarbology.org, MyGarbology goes beyond “Reduce, Reuse, Recycle” to educate on the importance of conservation. Adaptable for any grade level, MyGarbology was developed specifically with teachers and students in mind. It combines fun with learning to instill students with real knowledge about the impact of human behavior when it comes to waste.
“MyGarbology goes beyond online technology and gives teachers, students, and families the opportunity to take the science of Garbology offline and into the home, classroom or community,” said Anne Burnett, director of programs at NatureBridge. “The site helps players turn knowledge into action and allows them to celebrate America Recycles Day, every day!”
In the game, players choose how to dispose of six common items: a banana peel, plastic bottle, T-shirt, chip bag, cell phone, and plastic bag. The waste bins come alive with a quirky and humorous approach that gives MyGarbology a personality and makes it engaging for people of all ages. Try to put the banana peel in the recycling bin or a cell phone in a compost bin! Along with tangible examples of how improperly disposing of waste impacts our environment, players learn fun facts and startling statistics about waste items. For example, players learn how the “F.B.I.” (Fungus, Bacteria and Invertebrates) get involved in composting a banana peel. At another stage in the game, players use X-Ray vision to scout out all the electronics in a bedroom and learn what happens to old electronics that aren’t disposed of properly.
NatureBridge worked with its Teacher Advisory Committee (TAC) to create MyGarbology to provide an educational tool that teachers could use in the classroom to connect students with the ideas behind waste disposal. Over the last year, the Teacher Institute on Science and Sustainability (TISS) at the California Academy of Sciences has tested and implemented the game into their program, and while teachers learn about trash, they are introduced to MyGarbology.
“Schools are always looking for fresh ways to engage students on sustainability and ignite their interest in science,” said Grahme Smith, manager, California Academy of Sciences Teacher Institute on Science and Sustainability. “MyGarbology is a fun and interactive way to reinforce and build upon their understanding of the complexity of the waste system. It’s been a great addition to our program.”
In addition to learning about waste reduction and recycling, users are encouraged to take the MyGarbology Pledge, a checklist of additional ways to make a difference by reducing waste. The website offers customizable lesson plans and activities like conducting a waste assessment of their school or home, or implementing a recycling program. MyGarbology also features a wide assortment of downloadable resources that explain how to take other green actions such as composting, reducing toxins and saving water.
MyGarbology was partially funded by a grant from AT&T and developed by NatureBridge in partnership with Westernized Productions and Elastic Creative. Activities and resources were provided by SF Environment. Additional partners include Pasco, and the California Academy of Sciences. To use MyGarbology or take the MyGarbology Pledge, visit www.mygarbology.org. For more information, visit the NatureBridge blog: http://www.naturebridge.org/blog.
Founded in 1971 as Yosemite Institute and based in San Francisco, NatureBridge is the leader in residential field science and environmental education for America’s youth. Its mission is to inspire personal connections to the natural world and responsible actions to sustain it. A signature partner of the National Park Service, NatureBridge currently operates campuses in Yosemite National Park; Golden Gate National Recreation Area; Olympic National Park in Washington State; Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area; and Channel Islands National Park. It collectively serves more than 40,000 participants annually through field science, youth leadership and teacher training programs. NatureBridge partners with a diverse mix of corporate, environmental, education, federal and state organizations also focused on nurturing environmental stewardship, including Clif Bar, Google, Klean Kanteen, National Geographic Education Foundation, National Parks Conservation Association, Oracle, and REI. NatureBridge is a 501(c) (3) nonprofit organization. For more information, log on to www.naturebridge.org
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