Cans for Conservation

Congratulations! Your child’s school is one of only a handful of schools participating in Cans for Conservation, an activity sponsored by Sunset Zoo in Manhattan.  From now through Monday, April 9^th, your child will be asked to bring to school clean, crushed aluminum drink cans. In return for collecting aluminum, your child will have the opportunity to explore tigers and the problems they face.

           

The objectives of this program are to turn recycling into a habit, allow students to become community contributors, and give students the opportunity to learn more about animals.  Together, West Elementary School and Sunset Zoo can make a difference in the lives of tigers in 2012.

Sunset Zoo selected tiger conservation as this year’s focus because of the new effort established by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums to double the wild population of three subspecies of tigers by 2022, the next Year of the Tiger. Currently, the three subspecies identified only have approximately 200 individuals in the wild and are listed as critically endangered. These magnificent animals need the help of people from around the globe.

We have set a goal for each student to collect at least two pounds of aluminum (approximately 64 cans) from now until Monday, April 9^th.  Your child can bring the clean, crushed aluminum cans to your school throughout the week.  Please bag your cans and place

them next to the brown shed on the side of the building. Do not place them near the trash receptacles as they will be mistaken for garbage. Sunset Zoo will pick up the aluminum on Mondays at the school until the end of the program.   If more convenient, you may drop your cans off at Howie's Recycling in Manhattan anytime.   Please specify that they are to go to the Sunset Zoo/West account.

           

If your family does not have aluminum drink cans in the household, we do not encourage students to buy aluminum simply to recycle (that would defeat the purpose of the program).  Instead, we ask parents to collect cans at work, ask other family members to assist in the collection, or plan a street cleanup with your family or club to collect aluminum.  You will be surprised to see how much is thrown away each day!

           

All schools that meet their goal of two pounds of aluminum per student will receive free entry into Sunset Zoo for each student and teacher on Sunday, April 22 from 12:00 P.M.-5:00 P.M.  The ultimate recycling school with the highest number of pounds collected will receive a free Zoo Ambassador Program for their school in May as an end-of-the-year celebration! West Elementary received this honor two years ago!

If you have any questions about Cans for Conservation, or would like to know more about Earth Day at Sunset Zoo, please call Sunset Zoo at 785-587-2737.