Garbage disposal at the Beare Landfill site in the Rouge Valley began in 1967 and ended in 1983. The methane gas (biogas) created by fermentation of organic material in the landfill, which contains about 20 million tons of unsegregated waste, is being collected under vacuum by a system of pipes and used to generate electricity in a small power plant on the site, which produces about 5 MW, enough to supply about 10,000 homes. Through a guided hike students will visit this site, as well as assess the social and environmental impact of using processes that rely on chemical changes to produce consumer products.   

Target Audience: Grade 5 (Age 10-11).  

Offered: March 1st - November 30th

Program Length: Full Day - generally 3.5 hrs (10AM-1:30 PM) unless otherwise noted. Students will have lunch by the river.  
 

Overall Goals

1. evaluate the social and environmental impacts of processes used to make everyday products;

2. conduct investigations that explore the properties of matter and changes in matter;

3. demonstrate an understanding of the properties of matter, changes of state, and physical and chemical change.