CDC cleans up with "Ready, Set, Recycle!" initiative Published April 10, 2015 By Lisa Campbell Base Operations Support Civil Engineering KEESLER AIR FORCE BASE, Miss. -- This year's Earth Day is April 22, but the celebrations are getting an early start at the Keesler Child Development Center with "Ready, Set, Recycle!" a new program organized by the CDC's parent advisory board and base operations support. The program combines creativity and friendly competition to educate Keesler children on the importance of recycling and maintaining a sustainable environment. Ready, Set CDC children and their families are being challenged to see which classroom can gather the most recycled materials; but before the challenge can begin CDC kids will decorate recycling bins donated by Zero Waste Solutions, the base's recycling contractor. With no limit on the materials they can use to decorate, it's anticipated that these will be the coolest recycling containers found on base. "My experience in the classroom has shown me that young children are mostly kinesthetic learners and greatly benefit from hands-on educational activities," explained Jennifer Elliot, PAB member and "Ready, Set, Recycle!" coordinator. "The goal of the project is to teach children about recycling by involving them in the whole process." "We want their parents to participate too, so what the kids learn at the CDC can be reinforced at home," added Susan Chamberlain, base operations support community planner. "By introducing kids at an early age to recycling, they're more likely to develop good habits - it's a fun way to learn about sustainability, too." Recycle Families are encouraged to collect and bring in paper, cardboard and clean/rinsed plastic recyclable materials April 13-17. The class that collects the most materials will win a snow cone party and story time with Aaron Carter, base operations support hazardous waste manager. Parents are welcome to join their children for story time. ""Ready, Set, Recycle!" focuses on fun, but really we want children to understand that their actions will have an impact," said Chamberlain. "Actions as simple as recycling the morning newspaper or a milk carton can protect the environment." Earth Day Activities The creatively-decorated recycling bins will be showcased at the base exchange on Earth Day, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. April 22, and visit with base operations support and recycling personnel to learn about recycling, environmentally safe practices and energy conservation.