Children play a key role in changing culture at its core. DEP's graphics section created P2E2, the lovable pollution-preventing space creature to bring pollution prevention and energy efficiency to the attention of Pennsylvania's children. The pollution prevention and energy efficiency touting extraterrestrial adorns schoolbook covers, brochures and teacher's manuals to remind us about the three "Rs" -- Reduce, Reuse, Recycle. P2E2 resides permanently at the environmental education center in the Rachel Carson State Office Building in Harrisburg, where he continues to preach pollution prevention and energy efficiency fundamentals to children and grownups alike.

P2E2 inaugurated the P2E2 In Schools Program on Earth Day 1997. Through this program, DEP dispensed pilot teachers' manuals to school districts introducing elementary students to pollution and energy as concepts, and encouraging them to practice basic ecology, conduct energy audits in their schools and at home and become more involved in hands-on activities such as recycling and composting. The teachers' manual explains how to conduct a pollution prevention and energy efficiency review of a school as well as the environmental and economic benefits.

A series of six textbooks called Elementary Energy and Environmental Science Activities is also available. These are divided into three teaching levels, kindergarten to second grade, third and fourth grades and fifth and sixth grades to ensure the content is focused on a common phenomenon in the child's world. Student worksheets are provided to emphasize the lessons from each chapter. They provide a basic understanding of elementary pollution and energy information geared to middle school levels.

The teacher's manual, P2E2 book covers and curriculum have been distributed to middle schools throughout the state via DEP's regional offices. Feedback from educators will shape the program in future years and DEP has urged middle school teachers to introduce the new pollution prevention and energy efficiency program directly into curriculum. DEP continues to build its P2E2 in Schools Program in conjunction with other programs such as P3ERIE, our pollution prevention initiative in Erie, one element of which was geared towards cleaning up school laboratories and educating teachers about the dangers of using toxic substances in school laboratories. (See page 31 for more on P3ERIE.)

Teamwork between DEP and the Environmental Fund for Pennsylvania produced a television series called GreenWorks for Pennsylvania, distributed to cable stations across Pennsylvania. GreenWorks' mission is to appraise viewers of the latest news on environmental issues, regulations, energy efficiency and pollution prevention procedures. The program covers a variety of topics such as air quality, watershed protection, the many ways energy costs can be reduced, land use and reclamation and recycling.

GreenWorks appeals to children as well through Environmental Ed, who, each month, sings a new ballad or presents a new activity on aspects of our environment and how humans effect it. GreenWorks' camera crews and reporters travel throughout Pennsylvania outlining initiatives undertaken by citizens groups on recycling, technological breakthroughs, water and air quality energy efficiency and pollution prevention. So far, 72 cable systems with 10 million viewers have agreed to carry the program. Rotating schedules mean that viewers must check with local cable stations for times.

If you had the time and the money, what courses would you take to learn about our environment? So, what's stopping you? Tune in to the Interactive Learning Center on DEP's website. The Interactive Learning Center gives you the ability to see and hear video and narrated presentations on pollution prevention, cutting waste, energy efficiency tips, cleaning up watersheds, energy costs (and use) for businesses and how business people, local officials and citizens build new partnerships to restore and protect Pennsylvania's environment. Seeing and hearing someone speak about what citizens can do about keeping our land, rivers, streams and air clean for future generations is much more effective than simply reading about it.

For instance, the learning center broadcasts special events like the introduction of the 21^st Century Environment Commission, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's Waste Conference, WasteWise and programs on Stream Releaf and local environmental symposiums from around the state. The center broadcasts workshops, conferences and training sessions on specific environmental or regulatory topics and includes all training materials and handouts.

Accessing the Interactive Learning Center is as easy as turning on your computer. First, access DEP's website at www.dep.state.pa.us, then download the free video player. Look for the Real Player logo in the Learning Center, click on it and follow a few simple instructions. You must have Internet access and a computer with a sound card. The Real Player will work better with a fast modem but a 28.8 modem is the minimum necessary. If you would you like to be notified of new presentations or "live" events, send your e-mail requests to deplearningcenter@state.pa.us, and we'll put you on our special notification list.