Any idea what the items are in the picture above? Perhaps you’ve got a sweet tooth and recognize them as Twizzlers and Wonka nerds. I suppose you would be correct literally, but had you been at Lorax night at ASH, you’d identify them more literary as truffala tree stumps and seeds. And delicious, of course. Those Wonka nerds are the bomb!
You know the story of the Lorax, Dr. Seuss’ primer on environmentalism, right? Although the book was published more than 40 years ago, it continues to resonate with kids and the message of “speaking for the trees” still, unfortunately, remains timely. Last week, Quinn and I attended a fun family event which used the Lorax as a springboard for an array of activities which were creative and surprisingly fun.
We began (and ultimately concluded) our evening in the gym with an awesome obstacle course. There were things to crawl under, through and over, as well as a mini trampoline and a couple of soft hurdles. You could almost see the satisfaction on the face of the parents as the kids repeatedly attempted the course, tiring themselves out and promising a quiet remainder of have evening. Good job, PE teacher!
We next headed to the “planting station” in the lobby of the school. Long tables had been set up with rinsed and recycled milk cartons and there were a variety of vegetables seeds available for planting. We’re hoping to see our pea shoots any day.
By this point, we needed some sustenance. The cafeteria was our next stop and we put together a delightful mixed bag of treats, including the aforementioned truffala seeds and stumps. We also tossed in some goldfish and barbaloots (gummy bears) for good measure. Adequately fortified, we made for our final destination – the sculpture spot. Here, we found a pile of recycled items (small cardboard boxes, empty plastic bottles, egg cartons) to spark our 3-D creativity. Quinn made the awesome rocket below.
I wish I could say we attend all the events offered at my son’s school, but it just isn’t always possible. I am, however, so glad we made it to Lorax Night. A literary inspiration, some physical activity, environmental awareness, inspired recycled art and candy? Yes, please. It was terrific.
