The Clinton County Conservation District recently partnered with both the Central Mountain and Sugar Valley Charter School for a special art project presented by the district. The project involved individualistic painting of rain barrels that reflect the conservation of Pennsylvania. Fifteen students from several of Central Mountain High School’s art and transition classes taught by Ashley Rippey, Beth Heiser and Hayley Orndorf were part of the project.
Toby Boyer, a Watershed Specialist and Education Coordinator for the Conservation District came to collect the barrels painted by Central Mountain Students that would eventually be auctioned off. He explained the importance of the project.
“Two of the big things we try to do at the Conservation District is public outreach and information. We also like to do student education, so it is the best of both worlds with this project. We are getting students from Central Mountain involved and we are getting conservation related images painted on the barrels, “ he said.
“What we plan on doing with the barrels is auctioning them off during our annual Farm-City event that is held in September every year. Basically all of the proceeds that we get from the barrels are going to go right back into Central Mountain’s student fund and then Sugar Valley’s will go back to theirs to use for art classes or their choices of education programs.”
Boyer also said that the rain barrels are important for preventing an array of different pollutants.
“The rain barrels help with filtration, preventing storm water, nonpoint source (NPS) pollution, etc. We actually have another outreach event for the public where we are offering free rain barrels, not the painted ones however. They are plain white barrels and are offered to anyone who comes to our workshops to learn about NPS pollution, storm water prevention, etc.,” he explained.
One of the teachers tasked with getting her students involved, Haley Orndorf, explained how her students got to pick up some paint brushes and start committing to such an artistic project.
“Mrs. Killinger asked if my transition students wanted to work on a project, so we of course said yes. My students like to do odds and end jobs around the school and this was perfect for them, “ she said.
Several students from one of Ashley Rippey’s art classes spoke to The Express about their involvement on the barrels.
“Mrs. Rippey had asked if we wanted to help work on the barrels for her Exploratory Art class, so we did, “ said student Kobe Dershem. “Mrs. Rippey talked about themes involved with nature and everything outdoors. We just wanted to create the full picture of what people see around here.”
“Hiking and fishing is especially popular around here, so we got ideas from that,” added student Megan Reese.
The students involved said the biggest engagement from the project was the fun they had with painting everything, adding in all of the little details of animals, streams, flora, and all things involved with nature of Pennsylvania. Collectively, there were six barrels that were painted by Central Mountain students in addition to a couple more that will be painted by students in the future.
