Introducing "Beautiful Junk"
A creative sustainability initiative in ECE
We’re excited to introduce Beautiful Junk, a new sustainability project launching in the Early Childhood Education (ECE) program at Mohawk College!
This initiative is all about giving new life to recycled materials—transforming everyday items into imaginative learning tools for young children. By collecting and repurposing “beautiful junk,” we aim to enrich early learning environments while supporting the goals of Mohawk College’s Sustainability Plan.
Great news…the first round of materials we are collecting can be found in your homes! In the coming weeks, we’ll be sharing a list of even more materials we’re looking to collect.
First round of materials we are collecting: Loose parts! Not sure what that means? See the list below or the images to help you out.
- Lids (from fruit sauce pouches, from Gerber jars, bottle caps, laundry detergents and more)
- Buttons
- Corks
- Spools
- Golf Tees
Drop-off at the Fennell Campus in A111 (8:30 am - 4 pm; closed from 12-1 pm) and A226 or reach out to Kerry Drake to arrange drop off.
The fun doesn’t stop at collecting! Once per semester, we’ll host a Community Night where ECE community partners can come together to “shop” for these unique, sustainable materials—restocking their shelves with creative resources that support play, exploration, and learning.
Want to learn more or get involved? Reach out to Kerry Drake, ECE Faculty at kerry.drake@mohawkcollege.ca.
Thank you for helping us build a more sustainable, creative, and connected learning community—one piece of beautiful junk at a time!