Camp Invention’s fun program coming to Orange Avenue School

Camp Invention, a nationally recognized, nonprofit summer enrichment program, is coming to Orange Avenue School the week of June 26 through June 30.

A program of the National Inventors Hall of Fame, in partnership with the United States Patent and Trademark Office, Camp Invention challenges children in kindergarten through sixth grade to tap into their natural curiosity and use their creativity to solve problems. Through hands-on activities, Camp Invention promotes STEM — science, technology, engineering and mathematics

— learning; builds confidence, leadership, perseverance and resourcefulness; and encourages entrepreneurship, all in a fun and engaging environment.

Each year, the program features a new curriculum inspired by some of our nation’s most world-changing inventors

— the National Inventors Hall of Fame Inductees. This year's Wonder program encourages children to be confident in their ideas and explore their innovativeness though hands-on activities including:

• Catching Air: Taking a confidencebuilding ride through physics, engineer- ing and art, children design and build their own skate park;

• Invention Celebration: Campers take on the role of event planners as they throw a party celebrating creativity and innovation;

• MimicBot: Children show their unique style when they transform a robot that mimics sounds into a one-of-a-kind animatronic stuffie; and

• Pop-Up Venture: Big ideas come to life as campers design their own mini popup business.

“Both of my kids loved Camp Invention! They loved having the opportunity to create, innovate and iterate what they had learned,” said the parent of 2022 Camp Invention campers. “They were intensely proud to tell of their work each day and to showcase their projects at the end of the week.”

All local Camp Invention programs are facilitated and taught by qualified educators who reside and teach in the community. Camp Invention serves 118,000 students every year and partners with more than 2,200 schools and districts across the nation. For more information or to register, visit invent.org/camp.

Spring cleaning and recycling tips for Union County residents

The Union County Board of County Commissioners invites all residents to bring their spring cleaning recyclables to countywide drop-off events. These countywide events provide a free, convenient way to clear out personal documents for secure shredding and recycling, unwanted metal items for resource recovery and household chemicals, smoke detectors and many other potentially dangerous products for safe disposal.

“We encourage everyone in Union County to participate in our countywide recycling events and in their municipal programs, too. There are many opportunities to pitch in and help increase the recycling rate in our community, especially during spring cleaning season when the waste can pile up,” said Union County Commissioner Chairperson Sergio Granados.

Residents can participate in additional recycling programs for plastic film, electronics, block-type Styrofoam, fluorescent light bulbs and used motor oil. These pro- grams are available at municipal drop-off sites with support from the Commissioner Board.

Union County’s Bureau of Recycling and Planning also advises using the “3 R’s” during spring cleaning this year, to avoid creating unnecessary and burdensome waste next year.

1. Reduce: Avoid purchasing new items that are similar to the ones that have been sitting unused in your garage or other storage area.

2. Re-use: Items in good condition can be cleaned up and sold at a garage sale or donated to charity. In some areas, local freecycling programs and online “buy-nothing” clubs are available for residents to give away unwanted items within their community

3. Recycle: Check with your local recycling coordinator or download the free Recycle Coach app to stay up-todate on all recycling opportunities in Union County, including local curbside pickup schedules as well as drop-off programs. Recycle Coach also provides a handy “What Goes Where?” feature that makes it easy to sort items for recycling.

Union County residents who have a yard or community garden can also help divert useful resources from the waste stream — and save money — by recycling their kitchen scraps into compost.

Compost is a natural soil enhancer that helps reduce the need for artificial fertilizers. Visit ucnj.org/recycling to learn more about composting.

Experts from the Union County Bureau of Recycling and Planning are available to present recycling information to schools, community groups and other organizations. To schedule a program contact Heather Miara, heather.miara@ucnj.org.

For more information and updates on all Union County recycling programs and locations, visit the Bureau of Recycling and Planning website at ucnj.org/recycle.