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It is with great pleasure that I announce that The Magic Acorn has been environmentally friendly since it's conception, (even before it became trendy.) I started saving wooden toys from when my own children were small for the prospect of having a program. I am an artist, and have been making art out of discarded or found and recycled objects for almost 30 year. I carry that with me into the classroom and try to incorporate that philosophy that one man's trash is another man's treasure.
Last year we did a silent auction of wooden toys and Waldorf items to raise money for scholarships for families in the area who wanted to participate in the program, but were having financial troubles, we raised enough money for 7 seven families to have a reduced tuition. There is still scholarship money available if you are interested in the program, but cost is prohibitive. We also are continuing to do a Barter system. I would like to host another auction this fall. I also plan on doing a clothing swap once a month or every other month during our "MONEY SAVING MONDAY" Group.
We are learning about what is happening in our surrounding in Nature and in our classrooms, through our songs, poems, movement , crafts, and stories.
The toys that we use at The Magic Acorn are derived from nature.
The children carry canvass bags with their own symbol that helps represent them in the classroom and they can relate their symbol to their environment. We use wooden bowls and the children have a glass and their own hand towel with their symbol on it that they can use again each time that we come together. We recycle, and compost. I personally STILL use canvass bags that I have had and used for almost 20 years at the grocery stores.
I have done things in the community to help raise awareness of environmental issues, I have participated in the Maplewood Green fair, I have made a mosaic in the Maplewood train tunnel out of all recycled materials, and to help beautify the train tunnel. My most recent endeavor is to help out a local Maplewood artist with a sculpture at the Maplewood recycling center using found or discarded flat metal objects. We will be attaching the items to the chain link fence surrounding the recycling center. My friend has her own art studio, and is having the children help to prepare some of the objects for the sculpture. We are also hoping to get the Environmental Club at Columbia High School involved.
Being part of The Magic Acorn is not just attending a class with your toddler, there are many changes to participate in life.
"When you are part of a community, leave it better then when you joined it.
Leave your mark in a positive way" Mimi Wiles