New to the U.S.A. and Our Community: Kids Connect with the Environment and Stewardship
“One, two, three, filter it!” says Spokane County Education Specialist Laura Goff as she flips the switch for the Magnified Membrane Machine at the county’s Water Resource Center. Multicolored bouncy balls flood the base of the machine, and a group of elementary age students begin scooping and sorting each one by color and size, learning how pollutants are removed, and clean water is returned to the river.
As we all know, fun and learning go hand in hand. The perspectives and needs of these kids, however, are unique. They are part of the Refugee and Immigrant Connection (RICS) Kids Connect program, offering kids from families new to the U.S. the type of skills and knowledge needed to be productive, confident members of our community. Kids Connect prioritizes outreach to Nicaraguan, Venezuelan, Afghan, Ukrainian and middle eastern groups.
As instructors guide the group toward another exhibit in the Water Resource Center, they call out,
“We need another engineer!”
In response, hands shoot into the air.
The Spokane River Forum is collaborating with RICS as part of a Washington Department of Ecology grant to increase inclusion of refugees and other underserved communities in waste reduction, recycling, food rescue, and composting activities. Today, kids are learning about the importance of clean water and conservation to our aquifer and the Spokane River.
September Htoo, Youth Program and Volunteer Coordinator for RICS, says Kids Connect also clarifies cultural differences about water use, conservation and waste disposal between the city of Spokane and the countries of origin. “What they do in other countries may be entirely different than what they might do here,” says Htoo.
An immigrant herself, Htoo moved to Spokane as a child and often informed her parents about waste management and conservation. When she and her family immigrated to the city, for example, no one in the household initially knew how to recycle a battery. Htoo also cited the difference between recycling and dumpster bins as part of the learning curve that her family experienced.
Today, the giggling circle of attendees are primarily from Iran and Iraq. One of the girls in today’s group eagerly awaits each new activity. She’s here with her younger sister, who is excited to make bracelets from beads representing the environments that water travels through. Earlier in the week, RICS’ Hispanic, middle eastern and Ukrainian students explored the same activities.
“Doing this is more than just play,” said the Forum’s program director Tonilee Hanson, a 30-year educator with national experience working with refugee populations and teacher training. “What we take for granted culturally can be confusing to those new to our country and community. Plus, these kids are often the essential link to helping their parents understand our environmental stewardship values.”
Starting last spring, the Forum and Kids Connect are taking field trips to 10 environmentally themed locations to get up close and personal with stewardship. Our Kids Connect photo album shows highlights. At the same time, activities are reaching adults through the RICS Wellness and Welcome to Spokane program.
Said Forum Executive Director Andy Dunau. “We’re very thankful Ecology is making it possible for us to welcome and engage with these diverse, extraordinary folks. And our partner agencies have been wonderful about opening their doors and working with the kids.”
Got Waste? Put it in the right place to protect our drinking water. Visit SpokaneWasteDirectory.org to find recycling and waste disposal providers near you.