Tacoma students showed their green side as well as their artistic side when they entered the 2007 EnviroChallenger/ EnviroKids Earth Day art contest. Almost 150 students entered the contest, which asked elementary and middle school students to show how they use the five Rs – reduce, reuse, recycle, respect and responsible – to keep their school, home, neighborhood or city clean. The 5Rs are taught to students by the City of Tacoma’s two EnviroChallenger educators. From the art the students created, it’s clear they understand how to make Tacoma a greener, cleaner place to live.

The work of each of the nine winners, and many of the other entrants, can be seen at http://www.cityoftacoma.org/envirokids . Also, a compilation poster of the winning pieces can be seen at the Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium, the Tacoma Nature Center and each of Tacoma’s library branches.

The EnviroChallenger program teaches free environmental lessons – with a mix of science, social responsibility and fun – to Tacoma’s public, private and home-schooled students in grades two through eight. They learn about water quality, recycling, the plight of Northwest salmon, and how their own behaviors can help make our surroundings greener and cleaner.

To view the winning works of art, visit http://www.cityoftacoma.org/envirokids or http://www.envirochallenger.com .