American School Promotes One-of-a Kind Recycle Parks and a Unique Approach to Learning
 Becci Burchett - peacemexico.org
June 22, 2010
| | American School of Puerto Vallarta students put their imaginations to use while doing something good for the earth, creating dozens of brightly colored flowers out of plastic bottles they collected. | |
Punta de Mita, Nayarit – Remember the time when sticks became horses for cowboys, chairs turned into spaceships and lightning bugs were actually glow-in-the-dark rings, fit for a queen? Over forty first and second graders from the American School of Puerto Vallarta (ASPV) put their big imaginations to use while doing something good for the earth, creating dozens of brightly colored flowers out of forgotten plastic bottles they collected.
Nancy Choates, first and second grade teacher for the English program, led the young students to tour and add their contributions to the recycle parks located in the schools of Punta de Mita where local non-profits PEACE and Entre Amigos gave new life to bottles, drainage pipes, old fencing, tires, broken boats, and fishing nets, transforming them into safe, beautiful playgrounds.
"Nancy initiated contact with me to arrange this field trip," said Nicole Majewski, Community Relations Director at PEACE. "Teachers at ASPV are always eager to help our mission."
ASPV has implemented a program called TEAM V (V for VALUES) to inspire more compassionate service in school, neighborhoods, and in our global community. Nancy Choates, Jennifer Peters, Teri Jo Wheeler, and many other staff members are regular volunteers at PEACE, leading beach and river clean ups, animals clinics, fundraising drives and other community projects.
This enthusiasm is not only evident in the teachers, but with the students. "I’m excited about doing so many things with trash!" said Inaki Jauregui, an 8-year-old second grader who visited PEACE and the recycle parks.
Passion for the beatification and betterment of the earth is contagious, and PEACE is eager to continue working with ASPV and other groups to educate and promote positive change.
 PEACE: Protection, Education, Animals, Culture and Environment, is a nonprofit organization established in 2005, made of four main programs which focus on education, entrepreneurship, animal well-being, and community engagement in the coastal regions of Nayarit, Jalisco and Quintana Roo, Mexico. Through innovative and community based programs, PEACE is working to improve the quality of life in local communities throughout the Bahía de Banderas. For more information, please visit PeaceMexico.org or click HERE to read more about PEACE |
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