Speakers and Presenters	Topics
CT DEP School Programs & Field Studies Susan Quincy (203) 734-2513 susan.quincy@ct.gov	Conserving Earth’s Resources (Grades 3-5) Students become "garbage archaeologists" to learn about a fictitious family and their conservation habits. They sort through a variety of objects and focus on the use of plastic. Students learn what can be recycled and why. These fun, hands-on activities emphasize reasons and methods for conserving earth materials through reusing, recycling and reducing the consumption of natural resources. Connecticut Ecosystems (Grades 6-8) By conducting their own field investigation, students determine the biotic and abiotic factors affecting the plants and animals within our local ecosystem. Students explore the many interactions occurring within an ecosystem as they participate in predator-prey and food chain simulations. Populations and Our Environmental Footprint (Grades 9-12) Students investigate the impact humans have on the planet by calculating their own "environmental footprint," thereby showing them the amount of land and water they need to support their life style. Students compare their environmental footprint to footprints from people from around the world. To further illustrate human’s carrying capacity, students participate in an interactive simulation to demonstrate how much the environment can support different human activities.
Connecticut Resources Recovery Authority Education Museums Trash Museum 211 Murphy Road Hartford, CT 06114 (860) 757-7765 Garbage Museum 1410 Honeyspot Road Extension Bridgeport, CT (203) 381-9571 $	Bin Busters Assembly Students become skilled at curbside recycling "do’s and don’ts" in an educator-led game format. Bin Basics Classroom Plastics Program In this hands-on activity, students discover how to become recycling detective. Rock, Paper, Recycling Classroom Resource This lesson engages the students in a recycling discussion which enables them to make the connection between recycling and how it helps conserve natural resources.
Dr. Abigail Maynard The Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station Department of Soil & Water 123 Huntington Street P.O. Box 1106 New Haven, CT 06504 (203) 974-8516 Abigail.Maynard@ct.gov Biography $	Composting, Soils Her specific areas of expertise include composting, utilization of compost in nursery stock and vegetable production, nitrate leaching from compost-amended soil, and the long-term effects of repeated applications of compost on soil characteristics and water quality.
Bill Duesing Executive Director CT Chapter of the Northeast Organic Farming Association (NOFA) PO Box 164 Stevenson, CT 06491 (203) 888-5146 bill@ctnofa.org $	Composting, Soils, Food Systems For over 35 years, organic farmer, author and environmental artist Bill Duesing has been working to promote organic agriculture and greater local food sufficiency in Connecticut and the Northeast through lectures, writings, media and community work.  He is currently the Executive Director of CT NOFA, the Northeast Organic Farming Association of Connecticut, and president of the NOFA Interstate Council.  He is author of Living on the Earth: Eclectic Essays for a Sustainable and Joyful Future.  He was founding president of CT NOFA and founding chair of the New Haven Ecology Project and its Common Ground High School, located on a farm in New Haven.
4-H Education Center at Auer Farm 158 Auer Farm Road Bloomfield, CT 06002 (860) 242-1744 info@auerfarm.org $	Composting, Soils, Eco-Systems, Seeds, Water Cycles Hands-on science programs on 120-acre farm or programs can be brought to your school.
Greg Bugbee The Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station Department of Soil & Water 123 Huntington Street P.O. Box 1106 New Haven, CT 06504 (203) 974-8512 Gregory.Bugbee@ct.gov Biography $	Composting Expert in soil fertility, turfgrass, potting media, composting, utilization of composted biosolids and control of weeds and algae in lakes and ponds. In charge of the soil testing laboratory in New Haven. Holds state supervisory licenses in the care of trees, turf and ornamentals and aquatic weed control. Works with public to solve soil and water related problems.
Vivian Felten Resource Conservationist Natural Resource Conservation Service 1185 New Litchfield Street Torrington, CT  06790 (860) 688-7725 ext. 0202 vivian.felten@ct.usda.gov	Backyard Conservation, Lawn Alternatives Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) is an agency of the United States Department of Agriculture. NRCS soil conservationists, soil scientists, agronomists, ecologists, engineers, planners, and other specialists promote land stewardship by providing technical assistance to address surface and groundwater quality; wetlands, riparian areas, and biodiversity; aquatic and terrestrial habitat; and impacts of land-use changes.

   KEY: $ Means performer or speaker charges a fee.

Performers and Assembly Programs	Program Information
Barbara Herson EarthTunes 16 Linder Terrace Newton, MA 02458 (617) 964-7463 earthtunes@comcast.net $	EarthTunes (Grades K-5) Music environmental education programs for children.
Bill Shontz PO Box 1345 Brattleboro, Vermont (802) 380-8800 webinterest@billshontz.com $	Animal Tales (Pre-School through Grade 3) Uses some of the same songs as "Green Up" – but this is geared to younger ages. "Green Up" (Grades K-12) Tailored to the age of the audience. Bill has the exact song material and sense of humor to engage and hold the attention of audiences of any age, even the hard to reach middle schools and high schools. Bill performs solo, or with his Green Up Band. He brings a slide show, with photographs and lyrics for some of the most sing-able songs. As always, Bill sings mostly original songs from his award winning album, as well as plays the flute, clarinet, and saxophone.
BJ Hickman BJ Hickman Magic Shows 623 Sixth St.  Dover, NH 03820 (603) 742-4010 (888) 262-4425 bj@bjhickman.com $	"Recycling Magic" (Grades K-8) This is magician BJ Hickman's newest school assembly program. It's lots of fun as bottles, cans, cardboard, paper and more are used (and reused) to promote the importance of recycling. BJ Hickman takes the participants on a magic journey through the "A to Z" list of who should recycle, why we recycle, how to recycle, and what to recycle. The magic words, "I reeeee-cycle" will be remembered for years! Waste Management is often the sponsor.
C.J. May Recycling is Magic CT Recycling Coalition (203) 423-6852 (203) 627-2973 Cyril.May@yale.edu $	Recycling is Magic (All ages) An educational program that uses magic to tell a tale of monsters, magic and too much trash!
Dennis Waring From Trash to Tunes c/o Young Audiences of Connecticut 3074 Whitney Ave. Bldg. 2, 2nd Floor Hamden, CT 06518 (203)230-8101 $	From Trash to Tunes Assembly (Grades K-12) Music-Science-Fun! Imagine two giant tables covered with magical, mythical, musical instruments. "From Trash To Tunes" is a performance of scores of handmade musical instruments based on ideas from around the world. Dr. Waring weaves tales of the origins of music and how all cultures through time have built fascinating sound making devices. Interesting sights, sounds and stories provide students with new insight into folklore, music, craft, science and world view. Instruments are from materials which are usually thrown away as trash. Guitars can be made from plastic containers, sticks and fishing line; sweet sounding flutes assembled from water pipe; xylophones fashioned using scrap wood and twine; drums built using tubes and cans.
EarthCapades – Environmental Vaudeville 580 Crespi Drive Suite A6 #405 Pacifica, CA 94044 (650) 557-4258 (888) 235-7124 juggle@EarthCapades.com $	Waste Reduction Production (Grades K-8) Learn simple things everyone can do to reduce waste at school and at home; conserve natural resources, enjoy nature, and explore ways we all can live in balance with Planet Earth. Planetary Circus (Grades K-8) EarthCapades effectively weaves comedy and circus skills with clear lessons about ecology, Earth science and positive environmental choices to demonstrate that every day is Earth Day.
Tara Brophy Green Gal Trumbull, CT guitara3@hotmail.com $	Earth Heroine (Grades K-6) A character created and preformed by Trumbull resident Tara Brophy, is an "Earth-friendly super-heroine" with a green guitar and a musical message for kids about taking good care of the world around them as well as themselves.
Grumbling Gryphons Traveling Children’s Theater Leslie Elias Artistic Director 110 Cream Hill Road West Cornwall, CT 06796 (860) 672-0286 grumblinggryphons@yahoo.com $	Grumbling Gryphons (Grades K-12) Using songs, stories, masks, movement, and captivating costumes, Grumbling Gryphons’ performances bring to life folktales from around the world and shed light on timely environmental issues. Extensive audience participation as well as intensive pre-performance drama workshops and residencies enhance the theater experience for children. Repertoire includes: "The Ghost Net: An Environmental Musical of the Sea," "Anansi – The Trickster Spider: A West African Folktale," "The Myth of Persephone," and "Trickster Tales: Native American Stories."
Jack Golden PO Box 933 Greenfield, MA 01302 (413) 774-3563 jack@garbageismybag.com $	Garbage is My Bag (Grades K-8) In "Garbage Is My Bag", an award winning performance program for school audiences, Jack Golden is the comedic "expert", Dr. T., who delves into a mountain of trash and an even bigger bag of vaudeville and circus tricks in search of answers to these questions. Garbage Is My Bag is a forty five minute program designed for assembly presentation to grades K-8.
JuggleJoy Educational Entertainment Keith Hughes or M.J. Moriarty 29 Seymour Avenue West Hartford, CT 06119  (860) 231-8954 info@jugglejoy.com $	JuggleJoy (Grades K-12) Offers circus-inspired, curriculum-based shows, and workshops designed to enhance science, language arts, physical education, and social studies units. Science shows include: "Why Did the Dinosaur Cross the Road?;" "Reduce, Reuse, Re-unicycle;" and "Sir Isaac Newton Goes to the Circus." Additional shows include American vaudeville history, school year kick-offs/wrap-ups, and reading rallies. Workshops/residencies include physical science and laws of motion; circus skills for physical education; recycling through mask making; dinosaur digs; and storytelling and improvisation.
Kathleen Jacobs & Puppets Forest Hill, MD 21050 (410) 893 – 1979 (410) 838 – 6848 Email $	Recycling Show (Grades K-6) While cleaning up litter, a wacky clean-up lady begins to play with newly found trash treasures. What should be saved? How might it be recycled? Inspired she decides to "recycle" old trash into puppets and "recycle" old folktales into a script.
Mad Science Mad Science Fairfield/New Haven Counties  Terry Wright (203) 381-9754 madscifc@sbcglobal.net Mad Science Southeastern CT Christopher Colter (860) 376-9451 $	Mad Science (Pre-school to School Age) Programs include workshops, after-school activities, school assemblies, stage spectaculars, booths, science nights/carnivals, camps, and birthday parties. Mad Science’s "edu-tainment" provides fun, hands-on, interactive, and educational activities that give children a clearer understanding of what science is really about and how it affects the world around them.
Sirius Coyote Going Green 3074 Whitney Ave. Bldg. 2, 2nd Floor Hamden, CT 06518 (203) 230-8101 (203) 230-8131 mail@siriuscoyote.org $	"Cool the Planet Down!" (Grades K-8) This concert/performance of mostly original songs and stories about climate change is designed to inspire action, cooperation, and emotional responses to environmental concerns for our communities, and assert the collective power of individuals in addressing issues affecting our climate and our environment. Music performed on instruments made from natural materials. "10 Ways to Cool the Planet" (Grades K-12) During this hands on workshop students will explore what they can commit to do at home and in school to save energy, water and environmental impact on a very low budget. Activities will range from monitoring and changing electrical use patterns, eating habits, and recycling, to conserving water and planting trees. "Cooking with the Sun" (Grades 5-12) After a brief demonstration, students will break into subgroups to make a solar over from cardboard and other natural, easy to find, materials. After they make their ovens they will be given a vegetable to cook in it on the next sunny day, and will be asked to talk about and write what they experienced while learning about solar energy, making a solar oven, and cooking in it. Follow-up activities include creating their own solar recipes and writing a cookbook. "Imagine a Greener Future: Designing an Eco-Village" (Grades 5-12) Over a minimum of five days, students will be presented with a miniature three-dimensional model of the ecovillage the artists created themselves. "Green on Blue: Sustainability and the Curriculum Blueprint" (Teachers and Administrators) Participants will explore in depth the rapidly emerging "going green" paradigm and the types of changes that must occur in order to support the "cool" shift in our schools.
CT Expressive Arts Susan Rosano P.O. Box 465 Middletown, CT 06457 860-301-9033 ctexpressivearts@aol.com $	Oil Drum Art (Grades 3-12) Make a statement about our environment. Students create designs and paint oil drums with the theme of ecology – things that will help keep our environment clean and thriving. Oil drums can be used as containers to store items in the classroom, or receptacles for recycling. Children create their designs which are transferred on to the oil drum by the artist. The children then paint the banners in a workshop under the direction of the artist. Oil drums come in different sizes – 10 gallon drums are recommended for schools. The oil drums used for painting are clean and new and come in sizes of 55 gallon, 40 gallon and 10 gallon drums. Junk Man (Grades 3-12) Learn a lesson about global warming, the greenhouse effect, our climate changes and what we can do to prevent this environmental disaster from happening to our planet. Students will work in groups to then make a JUNK MAN sculpture using recycled objects from home. When finished, student will write a card with their statement about the environment that will hang from the arm of their Junk Man which will let everyone know what we can do to stop global warming.
The Earth Balloon PO Box 235 Circle Pines, MN 55014 (763) 785-7876 $	Our Fragile Earth: Global Climate Change (Grades 3-12) All About Water!: Water resources Around the World (Grades 3-12) The Green Earth: Recycling, Conservation, Sustainability (Grades 3-12)
The Magic of Recycling Timothy Wenk 373 North Lake Avenue Brunswick, NY 12180 (800) WENK-123 wenkmagic@yahoo.com $	The Magic of Recycling (Grades K-5) This show is a 45-50 minute fun-filled, educational live show designed to teach students about the benefits of recycling. Through the use of audience participation, comedy, and the visual impact of magic, students learn what recycling is, why it’s important, and how to do it.
Alliance for Climate Education (ACE) 360 22nd Street, Suite 730 Oakland, CA 94612 (510) 251-5990 Local contact: Alan Palm, New England Region (508) 728-5992 Alan.Palm@climateeducation.org	Climate Change Assembly Programs (Grades 4-12) Made to be Age Appropriate ACE’s main vehicle for spreading awareness is through its educational presentations. ACE’s program presents current climate science to students through brief (45-60 minute) age-appropriate and entertaining assemblies delivered by ACE’s trained educators. Program is concluded by communicating the urgent need for action and envisioning the greener, cooler future for our country and the world. ACE also provides grants, scholarships and action kits to help students get started.
Michael J. Caduto P.E.A.C.E.® P.O. Box 1052 Norwich, VT 05055 802·649·1815 michaelcaduto@p-e-a-c-e.net $	Storytelling, Science, Environment (Grades K-8)Michael’s presentations range from programs on natural history and science to performances of story, song, dance, instruments and a cast of humorous and dramatic characters that share Earth stewardship and cultural understanding. Programs include "Minibeasts of the Stream," "The Loon’s Necklace," "The Children Who Plant Trees" and "Kid’s Power Program: Renewable Energy for Today’s Kids."  Performances include "Earth Tales from Around the World," "Keepers of the Earth," "Native American Games," "Tales from the Deep: Legends of the Living Waters," "Earth Gardens and the Seeds of Life," "The Rainbow  Garden: Celebrating Cultural Diversity," "Native American  Thanksgivings," " Flying Turtles & Talking Bears," "Bird Tales from Around the World" and "Keepers of the Night: Moths & Monsters, Bats & Bones." Michael J. Caduto is creator/co-author of the best-selling Keepers of the Earth series (NAPPA Gold Award) and Native American Gardening: Stories, Projects and Recipes for Families ( NAPPA Silver Award).
Trash Can Lid Productions (TLP) Jeff Erwin P.O. Box 1522 Portsmouth, NH 03802 603.502.5886 Jeff@TrashcanLidProductions.com $	Trash Can Music (Grades K-12) TLP is truly one-of-a-kind and has influenced the lives of many youth throughout New England. They blend the disciplines of science, conservation & recycling, language arts, math, pop culture, music and performance art through fun, hands-on experiences. Workshops are modified to meet students at their developmental level and include multi-sensory learning strategies. Programs can be modified for all age levels and for alternative venues such as camps and after-school programs.

   KEY: $ Means performer or speaker charges a fee.

Additional Resources & Speakers Bureaus

Disclaimer: The Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection (CT DEP) maintains the content on this web site to enhance public access to information and facilitate understanding of waste reduction, reuse and recycling. The CT DEP is not recommending these resources over any others and recognizes these represent only a partial listing of resources on this subject.

Content Last Updated October 07, 2009