In an effort to get students excited about recycling and creative problem solving, Pickering Associates hosted the 2nd Annual Rain Gutter Regatta at Hamilton Middle School last Thursday with the entire seventh grade. Jesse Daubert, an Environmental Scientist at Pickering Associates, spoke with students about the importance of recycling and how our decisions as consumers affect the environment.
“Students need to be aware of some truths about recycling and our wastefulness as a society,” said Daubert. “The Rain Gutter Regatta is a great place to share that message and encourage students to think critically and creatively about what they can do to help.”
Students worked in teams to design and build a boat using only recycled materials and masking tape. Pickering Associates provided recycled plastics, cardboard and paper borrowed from the Parkersburg Recycling Center. After the students built their boats, they raced them two at a time down the rain gutter, using only ‘wind power’ (or, their breath) to power their vessels. Afterwards, all materials were returned to the Recycling Center to be turned into something new.