Kids, Families Go Green at Rain Barrel Workshop

So many individuals and families signed up for the first ever rain barrel workshop at Discovery Center this past Saturday that Environmental Education Coordinator Laura Berry had to start a waiting list.

“There’s definitely a lot of interest in green (activities),” Berry said, as groups of children and adults worked on rain barrel projects around her.

Most of the morning was spent decorating the rain barrel each individual or family would take home. The plastic barrels were treated and sealed before the class and participants used indoor and outdoor acrylic paint to make works of art out of the containers that will eventually collect rainwater for their home gardens.

“It’s not a way to save money,” Berry said of the rain barrel system.

Rather, the barrels, which is placed under a downspout, should be viewed as a way to conserve water and to provide outdoor and indoor plants with nutrients from nature.

Caroline Madden, 12, was one member of a church group that attended the workshop. Caroline is a member of “Little Hands,” a youth group from St. John the Evangelist, Flossmoor.

“We help out, we do things (for shut-ins), for the ,” Madden said.

But on Saturday the group's “little hands” were busy creating a rain barrel that will collect water outside the church.

“Here’s a cross,” Caroline said, as she painted carefully. “And this is a butterfly (signifying) the resurrection.”

First grade Markham teacher Tina Chlopecki of Flossmoor already has a rain barrel at home, but she’ll put this new one to good use.

“The other one isn’t decorated,” Chlopecki said. “I’ll be using this in the classroom.”

has a “green” committee and the rain barrel workshop is just one of many environmentally-friendly programs it will be offering. Also on the agenda is a special slate of Earth Day activities on April 16.

If you are interested in making your own rain barrel, materials can usually be purchased at major hardware stores, like Lowe’s and .

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