Community Planting Day On November 16

Volunteers are invited to plant native trees at Brookwood Elementary’s playground on Saturday, November 16 from 9:00 am to 10:00 am during Community Planting Day.  The trees will provide much needed shade for students at the school in Dalton, GA.

This event, sponsored by the Community Foundation of Northwest Georgia and Dalton Utilities, is in celebration of National Planting Day.  This is an initiative of Keep America Beautiful to plant native plants, trees, and shrubs to enhance biodiversity, and protect wildlife in local communities.

Pre-registration for volunteers is not required. Participants should wear close toe shoes, and weather appropriate clothes.  The majority of tools and supplies will be provided, but volunteers are encouraged to bring their own shovel if possible.

Special thanks to the following event organizers: Dalton Tree Board, Keep Dalton-Whitfield Beautiful, and Whitfield County 4-H.  Click here to download the event flier, or call 706-226-6211 for more information.

Elizabeth Swafford Earns ATEEG Distinction

Elizabeth Swafford has been certified as an Environmental Educator thru the nationally accredited professional development program Advanced Training for Environmental Education in Georgia.

(Dalton, GA, October 27, 2013) –  Elizabeth Swafford, Recycling and Education Program Coordinator for the Dalton-Whitfield Solid Waste Authority, and Executive Director of Keep Dalton-Whitfield Beautiful, has earned the distinction of Certified Environmental Educator.  After completing a rigorous two and a half year study she received one of the first certifications for ATEEG, Advanced Training for Environmental Education in Georgia.  This professional certification program is offered by the University of Georgia’s Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources, and the Environmental Education Alliance of Georgia.

Swafford was recognized at the 2013 Environmental Education Alliance’s Annual Conference in March along with other educators who successfully completed the program, which is nationally accredited by the North American Association for Environmental Education.  The ATEEG certification required 30 hours of specialization workshops, completing three core courses, and an independent study project.  The courses focused on the foundations of environmental education, fostering learning, and assessment and evaluation.

This certification is of benefit to educators in the state who want to be recognized as a leader in the field of environmental education and gain credibility for the profession that is reflected in various career paths.  Educators can range from those in formal settings, such as a science teacher in a public school, to those working in non-formal educational settings like a nature center.  Swafford is a non-formal educator who teaches local students about recycling, the landfill, and other environmental topics through her work at the DWSWA and KDWB.

Swafford’s independent study project, Recycling Ben’s Sidekick Training, was designed to train third graders to become recycling superheroes.  During the special 4 hour program students made upcycled name tags, toured the landfill and recycling center in Whitfield County, made an edible model of a landfill, completed a recycling relay race, and met mascot Recycling Ben.  The project included all aspects of the ATEEG program, including components for assessment and evaluation. The special training is now part of the regular educational opportunities offered at the facility.

4th Annual America Recycles Day Billboard Contest Announced

The 4th Annual America Recycles Day Billboard Design Contest is underway.  Pictured is the winning design of 2012 designed by Brisa Mandujano, an 8th grader from Eastbrook Middle School.

Middle Schoolers Invited to Participate

(Dalton, GA, October 2, 2013) –  The Dalton-Whitfield Solid Waste Authority is pleased to announce it’s 4th Annual America Recycles Day Billboard Contest for 6th, 7th, and 8th graders that attend either public or private schools participating in the Target Recycling at School program in Whitfield County.  Students are invited to design a billboard in keeping with the spirit of America Recycles Day, which is celebrated yearly on November 15.  The top design out of the three grade levels will be displayed for four weeks on two billboards.

During the 2012 contest, Eastbrook Middle School 8th grader, Brisa Mandujano, won first place overall.  Her artwork, chosen out of 193 entries includes the phrase, “Recycle, it’s the natural thing to do” which was the theme for America Recycles Day 2011.  It features a group of students passing recyclable items, like bottles and cans, to each other and placing them in a green recycling bin.   

Themes for this year include, “Let’s Target Recycling Together”, “I Recycle. Do You?”, and “Recycle, it’s the natural thing to do.”  First, second, and third place prizes will be given in each of the three grade levels.  The grand prize is chosen from the three first place winners.  

Click here to download the Contest Guide with an entry form.  Deadline for entries is Wednesday, November 6, 2013.  There is no entry fee, however an official entry form needs to be included with the artwork.  Only artwork submitted directly from a school representative will be accepted.  Winners will be announced on Thursday, November 14. 

For more information contact Liz Swafford, Recycling and Education Program Coordinator, at 706-278-5001 or e-mail: lswafford@dwswa.org.  To learn more about America Recycles Day visit www.americarecyclesday.org.

Eek-o-Friendly Costume Swap on October 19

 Exchange last year’s costume for one that’s new to you!

(Dalton, GA, October 11, 2013) –  Keep Dalton-Whitfield Beautiful invites you to swap your clean, gently-used Halloween costume for one that’s new to you at the Eek-o-Friendly Costume Swap.  It will take place on Saturday, October 19 from 4:00 pm to 6:00 pm at the Gaston Community Center in Dalton.  Stop by to “recycle” your costume, and learn new ways to make your Halloween more eco-friendly.

In the spirit of National Costume Swap Day™, volunteers will be accepting family friendly costumes for babies, children, adults, and pets.  A costume to swap is required for admission to the costume area.  The event will be set up in meeting rooms C and D, which are at the far left side of the building.  Costume donations will be accepted during the event for those that do not need to swap but want to put their old costumes to good use.

During the event visitors, with and without costumes to swap, can visit the booths with information about making your Halloween greener.  Topics include zapping energy vampires in your home, how to choose better treats and treasures, and more.

For more event information visit www.keepdaltonwhitfieldbeautiful.org, https://www.facebook.com/events/1386097834954445/, or call 706-278-5001.

19th Annual Conasauga Watershed Clean-up on October 26

Be a part of the tradition on Saturday, October 26 when you join other volunteers in cleaning up the Conasauga Watershed.  Registration opens at 9:00 am at each of the seven clean up sites located in Whitfield County and Murray County.  Choose a site and enjoy some muddy merriment as you help care for our area’s beautiful streams and river! 

This year’s clean-up will take place at seven locations:

1. Conasauga River at Carlton Petty Road bridge

2. Conasauga River at Highway 2 bridge

3. Conasauga River at Lower King’s Bridge/Norton Bridge

4. Holly Creek, Murray County, on the Chattahoochee National Forest

5. Mill Creek tributary in the City of Dalton

6. Coahulla Creek at Prater’s Mill

7. Lakeshore Park in the City of Dalton

The 19th Annual Conasauga Watershed Clean-up is held in conjunction with Northwest Georgia United Way’s Make A Difference Day and Georgia’s Annual Waterway Clean-Up, Rivers Alive.  The first 250 volunteers will receive a free shirt, and a hat or reusable water bottle.

Sturdy shoes or boots, gloves, long pants, and long sleeved shirts are recommended.  Hip or chest waders are useful, but are not required.  Trash bags and other supplies will be provided. 

One of the six most biologically diverse freshwater river systems in the United States, the Conasauga River supports 24 endangered species and a dozen other imperiled species, including the Southern Pigtoe mussel and the Conasauga log perch, a fish found nowhere else in the world.

SPONSORS:    Shaw Industries, J&J Industries, Dalton Utilities, Dalton-Whitfield Regional Solid Waste Management Authority (DWRSWMA), The Nature Conservancy (TNC), and the Conasauga River Alliance (CRA).

COORDINATORS:  Carpet & Rug Institute, CRA, Dalton State College, Dalton Utilities, DWRSWMA, Keep Chatsworth-Murray Beautiful, Keep Dalton-Whitfield Beautiful, Limestone Valley RC & D, TNC, and Murray County Extension.

For additional information, please contact John Lugthart at jlugthart@daltonstate.edu, or 706-272-2485.   Click here to download the event flier with directions.

Join and share this event on Facebook thru Keep Dalton-Whitfield Beautiful's event listing.