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- How do I sign up our school or class for a field trip? Answer: Simply call the office of Keep Blount
Beautiful at 681-4809 or email keepblo@earthlink.net.
- How many students can I bring at once? Answer: We limit our field trips to 60 students or one school
bus. Your school may reserve multiple days if needed.
- Who decides the schedule? Answer: Teachers can have as much input into this decision as they want.
Some prefer for Keep Blount Beautiful staff to create the entire schedule while others like to request particular activities.
- What if we can't come for a whole day? Answer: Keep Blount Beautiful can do just the tour with your
group or we can create a half day trip. As long as there is room in our schedule, we are very flexible.
- Does the field trip cost anything? Answer: No, the program is paid for through a grant from the Blount
County Solid Waste Authority. All schools have to pay for is transportation to the landfill.
- What do I need to do to prepare my students for the field trip? Answer: Preparation for this field
trip can take many forms. If you plan to have a No-Waste Lunch, then the students need to be educated about what this means. Most of our groups have not been overly prepared before
the field trip. Our staff and volunteer try to gauge the sophistication of the group and facilitate the day for that
level. There are educational resources available for pre and post field trip activities in the classroom. If you
are interested in making waste education a part of your curriculum, please visit: Tennessee Solid Waste Education Project. You may also have your students visit the Keep America Beautiful interactive website: Clean Sweap USA.
- What do we need to wear? Answer: Please dress comfortably in layers. It is often cooler at the
landfill because it is up on a hill and there seems to be a constant breeze. Wear comfortable sneakers or boots that
you aren't afraid to get muddy. Always bring a light jacket in the Spring and Fall. It is a good idea to have
sunscreen and bug repellant if needed. Basically, plan for a day outdoors.
- What type of facilities are at the Learning Center? Answer: Currently, we have a wonderful outdoor
pavilion and outdoor classroom areas. It is important to understand that the entire fieldtrip is outdoors. We
are using port-a-potties. Please encourage students to bring at least 2 water bottles for themselves.
- Does the landfill stink? Answer: Surprisingly no. The only odiferous area is the active household
waste cell and we only spend a few minutes there. We do an activity all over the landfill with the kids called the "sniff
test" to test whether it stinks. Most of what you smell is fresh country air.
- Is visiting the landfill safe? Answer: Yes! Many parents ask this question and even some teachers.
There is no toxic goop at the landfill that will harm students or adults. People work at the landfill everyday.
No hazardous materials are accepted at our landfill and even if they accidentally got in, there are multiple safe guards against
them leaching into our environment. If you are concerned about safety, then we strongly encourage you to come on the
field trip with us and see for yourself. Our landfill is something every resident should be proud of. It is a
beautiful place that looks more like a park than a dump.
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