Healthy Schools
OEC provides tools and resources for teachers and parents to engage students in environmental learning and action.
Anti-Idling Kit
Our "It's Not Cool to Idle at School!" toolkit is an exciting way to engage students in
improving air quality and cutting fuel
consumption. Designed for 5th-8th grade students, the project uses a
multi-disciplinary approach to raise awareness of health and environmental issues.
See a video and photos of fourth graders at Portland's French-American International School using the kit.
The kit includes a pollutant calculation sheet, facts about idling, and pledge medallions to remind parents and bus drivers that It's Not Cool to Idle at School! To obtain a copy of the kit:
Oregon residents:
Out of state residents:
- Click here to order kits. To offset the mailing costs, OEC must charge $10 for out of state shipping. The kits themselves are free.
Why worry about idling around your school?
Each day,
Americans waste millions of gallons of gasoline when thy leave car engines running while parked. Not only does idling contribute to smog and global warming, tailpipe pollution has a direct effect on children's health.
Children are more vulnerable to tailpipe pollution because their lungs are still developing. Growing kids also breathe more air -- and more pollutants -- per pound of body weight than do adults. With childhood asthma on the rise in the United States, protecting air quality is critical to staving off attacks.
Asthma is reaching epidemic proportions in Oregon. An estimated 73,000 Oregon children under the age of 18 are reported to have asthma.
This project was made possible through grants from he Spirit Mountain Community Fund and the Kellogg Foundation. Thanks to all for helping us provide schools with tools to make the air cleaner with every turn of the key.
Improving Air Quality
The Oregon Environmental Council and Portland Public Schools partner to improve air quality! By replacing a dirty heating system, OEC and PPS continue working to improve student health and ambient air quality. Click here to learn more.
Check out additional programs OEC is using to keep Oregon's environment healthy!
