Dispose of Waste Properly
Food Scraps
Food garbage is often left behind because it is biodegradable or animals will eat it. Use this activity to emphasize the importance of packing out uneaten food.
Goal
Participants will properly strain dishwater, pack away the food bits, and disperse the water.
If you used the One-Pot Meal activity for Plan Ahead and Prepare, students can use those pots for this activity.
Time
10 minutes for session, 5 minutes to prepare.
Objectives
Participants will be able to:
- Wash dishes using no soap
- Strain food from washwater
- Collect food bits for packing out
- Discard wastewater
Materials - for each small group
- Pot of water and empty pot
- Spoonful of rice
- Green scrubbie pad
- Square of fine mesh screen or nylon stocking
- zip-loc baggie
Motivator
- Animals are not a nuisance, being attracted to food bits.
- The camp area is cleaner and smells better.
- Water sources are protected.
Presentation
- Give each group of students a dirty pot (half full of water and a spoonful of rice), scrubbie, and screen.
- Explain that they should:
- Scrub the pot clean.
- Pour the waste water through the screen and into the second pot.
- Broadcast the waste water and bring back the food bits they collected.
Reflection
- Where did you disperse the water? (on soil or rock rather than vegetation)
- Was the amount of food collected worth the effort of straining the water?
- Was it necessary to use the second pot? What could we do instead?
- Is this how dishes and waste would be cared for in developed campgrounds? (should ask campground host when you arrive)
- How can the dishwashing task be made easier even before you start washing? (scrape out every bit of food. Wipe out with a paper towel.)
