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October 2023

Volume: 33 Issue: 11

Don't Trash 'em - SMASH 'em!

Pumpkin Smash is Saturday, Nov. 4

Did you know Illinois is the biggest producer of pumpkins in the Midwest? (Over 650 thousand pounds last year!) Pumpkins hold a lot of water weight--and all that water can seep through the landfill carrying dangerous chemicals into our groundwater.

But composted pumpkins feed the soil and protect our water! Pumpkin Smash is a SCARCE annual event that helps keep compostable pumpkins out of the waste stream by turning them into compost. Last year, the Smash kept over 230 TONS of pumpkins out of the landfill!

Schools and students from all over DuPage have gotten involved in Smashes and had lots of fun! Want to volunteer or join a Smash near you? Click here to learn more.

ABC's of Smart Recycling:

Letter U - Utensils, Unicorns & Umbrellas: What to do with the Unusual?

All kinds of unusual things can be recycled - if you know the secrets to where and how!

Learn where to take old toys, bent rakes and all those pens that have run out of ink. Then, start a collection box in your school!

Read this month's blogpost to find out more!

Turn Your Autumn Green

Where can you plant a tree to help restore habitat and greenspace?

According to NOAA, this year has already seen over 39 thousand forest fires in the US alone and a loss of millions of trees across North America.

Planting native trees can help recoup these losses, keeping our world cooler and greener.

Encourage your school or town to plant trees. (NPR reports federal funding will be made available for planting urban trees.)

Fall is a great time to plant a tree in our area! The Illinois Extension service has a list of native trees to help you find the right tree for your school or home.

Celebrate Illinois' oaks at OAKtoberfest!

Sat. October 14, 1-4pm. (weather permitting.) Sponsored by the Glen Ellyn Park District, this a free, family event.

Food, games, live performances and local environmental organizations will be around to make this a fun day out.

Pick Up 5 & Protect Our Greenspace

During spring, summer, and fall the playgrounds, parks, and forest preserves of DuPage are busy. With a population of over 900 thousand, it's not easy keeping our greenspaces clear of the litter that visitors leave behind. But all those pop bottles, plastic bags, cans and other trash can be harmful to wildlife and our waterways.

If you go leaf peeping, bike riding, or hiking in DuPage this fall, why not try the SCARCE "Pick Up 5" plan? If everyone did it, over 4 million pieces of litter would be collected. (and maybe save some recyclable aluminum cans from the landfill as well!)

Read about "Pick up 5" Here.

Learn About Lightning Bugs and Protect their Habitat

Have you seen the dynamic visual aid created by USA Today for learning all about lightning bugs, or fireflies? It covers natural habitat, biology and threats to the insect.

Scientists at Clemson University have been studying these special insects and report that leaf litter is crucial to their life cycle. (They lay their eggs there!)

This fall, remember the fireflies and leave some leaves in your garden and around your school's green space!

Image from Fransico Corado, pixabay

Saturday, October 28 9:30-11:30am

Visit the SCARCE Repair Fair

SCARCE will be hosting a Repair Fair with experts in textile, lamp and tool repair, as well as a knife sharpening demonstration!

Don't toss it. Repair it!

Planning to visit that day? Let us know via email.

Forest Glen Elementary in Glen Ellyn had an learning adventure with Eco-Educators from SCARCE.

Pictured is Mrs. Kathleen Hokenson, the sponsor of the One Earth Environmental Group and some of her 4th and 5th grade students.

Great work!

Former SCARCE intern. Meg. created this handsome fella. Our SCARCEcrow is made entirely of recycled materials. Cool!

Celebrate the 51st Anniversary of the Clean Water Act

Volunteer to Monitor Illinois Rivers and Streams

It's been over fifty years since the Clean Water Act was passed, but there is more to learn and more to do!

This fall, Illinois RiverWatch will train volunteers to become Citizen Scientists, helping to monitor local streams and waterways for chloride. (In spring, volunteers can train to monitor other aspects of river health.)

Fall training workshops are virtual. FInd out more about volunteering here..

Teacher Open House

Tues. Oct. 24 4pm-6:30pm

SCARCE is welcoming teachers for a special afternoon. We can help you plan for educational training days, discover new materials, and learn about field trips to our Environmental Education Center. All grades from preschool thru high school, and both public and private school teachers are welcome. SCARCE store will be open late for teachers.

Drop by for a fun afternoon just for teachers with snacks, free books, and door prizes!

Send us an email to learn more.