The Big Sandy Mountaineer -

Severin Heimbigner, son of Lianna and Conrad Heimbigner, just finished his goal. He earned his Arrow of Light Award. It is the highest level a Cub Scott can reach. That is an enormous achievement and should be celebrated. What triggered the project was his involvement in the Gifted and Talented Program at the grade school. The Gifted and Talented is taught by his teacher Shelbi Darlington. I went over to the FE Miley Grade School and visited with Shelbi Darlington to understand what triggered his project. Scattered all over the room where all kinds of recycled material. Her responsibility is to teach children STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) projects. Each project is to encouraged problem solving, creative thinking, and critical thinking. The problems she gives them to solve requires them to use these supplies. At the beginning of the class Shelbi Darlington compiled a list of material the kids could collect from home to bring to class. Severin took it one step further.

Severin has been in Cub Scouts for seven years.

Recycling is something he believes the people of Big Sandy need to be more aware of. He told me how he read of islands of plastic floating the ocean and was interested to learn that Seattle has outlawed plastic straws for that very reason. He thought for his project that he could network with other scouts to collect more recycled material for his class. He made signs and sent announcements to others. He got more then he could use at school. He also learned that even though he thinks everyone should recycle, he can't continue to do the project on his own. Neither the school, nor his own home, has enough room to store the recycled materials, and the Gifted and Talented program doesn't use them fast enough. He also learned it takes more communication to get something accomplish. Havre Recycling recycles a large list of material. They don't pay for them all, but neither was that the reason he cared about the project. To see a complete list of material they will take look up Recycle Hi-Line on the internet. He accomplished his goal, but he also realized that what he really cares about will take a whole community to accomplish. If anyone is interested in discussing this further with Severin I think he'd love to talk to you.