Education Center
Tri-CED Community Recycling and Chabot College have entered into a joint venture to design, build and operate an Environmental Education Center to be located at the Tri-CED Community Recycling facility, 33377 Western Ave. Union City, CA. We are conducting a series of surveys, as part of an overall feasibility study and business planning process, to identify the key features and functional components of the Education Center in order to meet the direct, practical needs of the schools, teachers, students, job training requirements, institutional requirements and community needs for Southern Alameda County. It is our intention to operate this facility so as to best meet all of these needs in a cost effective, economically viable and sustainable manner. Funding for the Education Center will be raised through foundation grants. It is estimated that the planning, permitting, street improvements and education center capitalization will cost $4 million.
Goals and objective of the Education Center and Planning Process;
- To determine if existing environmental education programs, services and activities for K-12 school students, that are currently available and in use, are consistent with providing a comprehensive understanding and appreciation for environmentally related topics and issues, and meet the needs of our school districts, teachers and students.
- To identify and/or determine the perceived and real needs of K-12 students, along with the requirements of teachers and schools districts, for the type and level of experiences that will be most effective.
- To determine what programs and services should be made available that are required to meet the in-service training needs of teachers on environmental education and recycling issues. And, as nearly as possible, to determine what appropriate teaching materials and curriculum are required for any each of the K-14 class levels.
- To identify other appropriate issues and needs relevant to improving the skills and capabilities of teachers to teach environmental education subjects, principals, values and appreciation.
- To determine the level of involvement and/or commitment that can be expected from the School District Administrators and the school districts as a whole regarding the development of and on-going use of the proposed Environmental Education Center by Tri-CED Community Recycling/Chabot College.
The Board of Directors of Tri-CED Community Recycling have committed to building this Education Center at our facility. The facility will be located inside the Intermediate Processing Center and will include two floors. Each floor will be 5,000 square feet.
The top floor will include viewing areas so that students and visitors can see the processing of recyclables on the processing center floor. It will have a multi-purpose room that will be adjusted according to the number of visitors and room required to accommodate classroom size projects and set ups. At the other end of the top floor there will be a lab complete with water and work stations so that students can do experiments and hands on activities.
The bottom floor will be dedicated primarily to classroom space, offices and a break area for staff. This floor will be designed for learning. As part of our commitment to community based organizations the bottom floor will also be utilized by community groups for meetings or counseling sessions. Tri-CED staff and other interested members of the public will be given the opportunity to use the classrooms for GED classes, ESL classes and in general adult education classes. Several non profit organizations have expressed an interest in being located at the Education Center.
To date, Tri-CED has raised $270,000 towards the construction of the Education Center. Tri-CED’s contribution will be the space/land required and a commitment to sustain the operation of the center over time