Thank You for Scheduling an Educational Program at Carpenter St

To the Teachers:

Thank you for scheduling an educational program at Carpenter St. Croix Valley Nature Center. You are welcome to enjoy lunch here before or after your scheduled program time. Carpenter Nature Center is dedicated to reducing our impact on the environment and is trying to be a Zero-Waste center. This means preventing waste, reusing products, and utilizing recycling and composting as much as possible.

*If possible we ask that you encourage your students to bring Zero-Waste lunches with only items that can be eaten, reused, recycled or composted.

* Encourage reusable containers in a reusable lunch box. If you are not able to bring reusable containers and lunchboxes, please ask that your students pack their lunches in paper bags and avoid snacks with plastic wrappers or plastic bags.

*While at the Nature Center we will provide containers for recycling, composting and trash. Please teach your students the difference between trash (plastic wrappers, chip bags, straws), compostables (food scraps including meat, fruit, veggies, dairy products, and soiled paper products) and recyclables (cans, plastic bottles, non-soiled paper) items.

*If you would like to learn more about Zero-Waste lunches to teach your class please visit the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency website at www.epa.gov/epaoswer/education/lunch.htm or Waste-Free Lunches at www.wastefreelunches.org.

* Please copy the letter below and send home with students about packing their lunches.

Thank you for deciding to visit Carpenter Nature Center and for helping us reduce our waste!!

Carpenter St. Croix Valley Nature Center Staff

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Dear Parents and Guardians,

Did you know that an average child generates 67 pounds of lunch-related waste each school year? Your child’s class will be eating lunch at Carpenter Nature Center on the day of their field trip, and we would like your help to reduce the waste that comes along with bag lunches. Please help your child pack a lunch with only items that can be eaten, reused, recycled or composted. Please avoid using plastic bags and individually wrapped snacks.

Ideally a Zero-Waste Lunch would include:

·  sandwiches and other main dishes, fresh fruit, fresh veggies, and treats in reusable containers

·  cloth napkins instead of paper napkins

·  stainless-steel forks and spoons (or reuse plastic ones)

·  reusable drink containers and reusable lunchboxes

·  food products that have very little waste and minimal packaging

To learn more about how to pack a Zero-Waste lunch please visit Waste-Free Lunches at www.wastefreelunches.org.

Thank you for helping us reduce our impact on the environment,

Carpenter St. Croix Valley Nature Center Staff