Earth Day Poster Contest Winners on Display at CV Library
Four elementary school students from Unincorporated Alameda County won prizes for their outstanding entries in the “Litter Hurts” Earth Day poster contest. The contest was open to all 3rd and 4th graders in Unincorporated Alameda County and sponsored by the Alameda County Unincorporated Area Clean Water Program.
The top four prize-winning posters, two each from 3rd and 4th grades, will be displayed at the Castro Valley Library at 3600 Norbridge Ave, Castro Valley, CA 94546 from May 1st–May 29th.
To enter, participating teachers held a classroom mini-lesson on litter, and showed a video starring Clean Water Program mascots Fred Frog and Izzy Egret, also called “Litter Hurts,” available for viewing on YouTube. Students then creatively expressed what they learned in their artwork.
“Litter on our streets that is washed down stormdrains ends up in our local creeks and eventually the Bay,” says Cynthia Butler, the Clean Water Program representative for Unincorporated Alameda County. “Helping kids understand the connection between their neighborhoods and local water and wildlife can help stop litter before it starts. Litter causes more problems than just unsightly blight.”
The contest received 278 creative entries making it difficult to pick only one poster per grade. Instead of only one winner per grade, they awarded first and second-place entries with prize packs, and the top 10 entries received certificates. Winners received a Clean Water Program Stanley Cup reusable water bottle, a Clean Water Program reusable tote bag, and a spiral notebook with the student’s artwork printed on the cover.
Fourteen classrooms submitted entries from every student and were entered into a raffle. Two classrooms were awarded a $100 Amazon gift card each.
All winning posters will be displayed at the Castro Valley Library, 3600 Norbridge Ave., Castro Valley, CA 94546 from May 1st –May 29th.
3rd Grade Winners
Addy L.
Ms. Haffner
Chabot Elementary School
Risa N.
Ms. Kundert
Marshall Elementary School
4th grade Winners
Cammy T.
Mr. Domingo
Stanton Elementary School
Vera C.
Ms. Booth
Independent Elementary School
Amazon Gift Card Raffle Winners
Julienne Medina, 4th grade teacher, Stanton Elementary School
Suzi Green-Curiel, 4th grade teacher, Marshall Elementary School
When trash —plastic bags, bottles, utensils, etc.—is thrown on the ground, it gets washed into storm drains and directly into our waterways. Much of it is not dropped directly into or near the water, but because litter travels—even from miles away – it can end up in our local creeks and the Bay! Litter can also leave tiny particles that birds, fish and other animals mistake for food. The animals can die or become sick, as their digestive system becomes clogged. During local creek and beach cleanups, volunteers find hundreds of pounds of litter.
The Clean Water Program
Working with agencies from around Alameda County, the Clean Water Program facilitates local compliance with the Federal Clean Water Act. They foster a culture of stewardship of our local creeks, wetlands and the Bay. Alameda County homes and businesses are connected to these important waters through the network of stormdrains found in every neighborhood. For more information, visit www.cleanwaterprogram.org