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Funded by the Howard County Youth Engagement Program (YEP!) Grant, CYCG launched the EnvSmart Project in the summer of 2023 to prompt environmental sustainability, composting, and upcycling.
CYCG gave out self-designed low-cost indoor composting buckets to community members. Over 650+ households have started easy and simple indoor composting from CYCG provided initial kits. More details here.
CYCG also teaches upcycling art classes to make artwork from daily household recyclable items. CYCG has hosted 6-week Upcycling Art Camp in 2023, taught art classes in the libraries, ran various craft tables in community events, and hosted 2 upcycling art exhibitions.
CYCG gave out self-designed low-cost indoor composting buckets to community members. Over 650+ households have started easy and simple indoor composting from CYCG provided initial kits. More details here.
CYCG also teaches upcycling art classes to make artwork from daily household recyclable items. CYCG has hosted 6-week Upcycling Art Camp in 2023, taught art classes in the libraries, ran various craft tables in community events, and hosted 2 upcycling art exhibitions.
We are working with HCLS to schedule more Upcycling Art Classes in the summer, please stay tuned.
More Previous Upcycling Art Class, click here.
More about Indoor Composting Buckets, click here.
Interested students, please sign up here.
Art Workshop at APAHMC on 5/17/25 at HCC
CYCG hosted another successful art workshop at Asian Pacific American Heritage Month Celebration at Howard Community College on 5/17/25. 80+ community members visited the craft table and made beautiful canvas bag from napkins and learned environmental awareness.
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Art Workshop at AAPI Event on 5/10/25
CYCG hosted a very popular art workshop at HoCo AAPI Celebration Event on 5/10/25, which was Mother's Day weekend. CYCG taught 100+ community members to make Decoupaging Canvas Bags from daily napkins. Kids, adults, even seniors enjoyed this creative crafting projects and were all happy about the final products they accomplished. CYCG was invited to host a craft table at the upcoming state AAPI celebration event on 5/17/25.
Howard County 2025 Green Fest on 4/12/2025
CYCG Won 2024 Green Community Leadership Award
CYCG was invited to host a booth at Howard County 2025 Green Fest on 4/12/2025 at Howard Community College.
CYCG students talked about environmental sustainability and distributed 50 DIY Indoor Composting Bin to community members.
CYCG also hosted an upcycling craft table to decoupage canvas bags from daily napkins.
CYCG was proudly recognized Howard County Green Community Leadership Award.
CYCG students talked about environmental sustainability and distributed 50 DIY Indoor Composting Bin to community members.
CYCG also hosted an upcycling craft table to decoupage canvas bags from daily napkins.
CYCG was proudly recognized Howard County Green Community Leadership Award.
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Basic Crochet Class on 3/15/2025
Some youth told us that they were interested in learning crochet and would like to make crocheted animals or flowers for friends' and teachers' birthday gift, or even for fundraising. Crochet is also a method of upcycling yarns and thread.
on March 15, CYCG invited Ms. Qingfeng Kong, an experienced folk artist to teach youth basic crochet skills at Miller Library. Youth brought their friends over and had great fun time. They also plan to create some flowers or stuff animals for the upcoming Green Fest to raise funds. During the class, CYCG also demonstrated multiple upcycling methods and showcased some artworks to inspire youth for environmental awareness.
on March 15, CYCG invited Ms. Qingfeng Kong, an experienced folk artist to teach youth basic crochet skills at Miller Library. Youth brought their friends over and had great fun time. They also plan to create some flowers or stuff animals for the upcoming Green Fest to raise funds. During the class, CYCG also demonstrated multiple upcycling methods and showcased some artworks to inspire youth for environmental awareness.
Paper Upcycling Art Class on 2/22/25
Free Paper Jewlery and Paper Umbrella on 2/22/25.
Free Upcycling Art Class-Paper jewelry and foldable umbrellas
Time/Date: Feb 22, 2025, 2pm-4pm
Place: Howard County Library Miller Branch
Address: 9411 Frederick Rd, Ellicott City, MD 21042-3801 ·
Over 30 community members participated this Paper Upcycling class and learned how to upcycle daily newspaper and magazine into beautiful beads for bracelets and earrings, and how to make fancy decorative foldable umbrellas. Everyone had a fun and relaxing time.
Sustainable Art Exhibition at HoCo Library Miller Branch in Jan &Feb 2025
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Made from Sunflower seed shells, sticks, foam plate
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Made from Gingko leaves
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Made from toilet paper rolls
Made from Gingko leaves
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Environmental Awareness Sparks Youth Creativity
New! Proudly featured on River Hill Villager 2025 Feb Issue, Page 15
HoCo Pumpkin Palooza at Miller Library on 11/16/24
2024 GreenFest here.
CYCG is Highlighted in 2024 State of County Address
On Oct 1, 2024, Howard County Executive Calvin Ball delivered his 2024 State of the County address at 6pm at The Horowitz Visual and Performing Arts Center at Howard Community College. CYCG was highlighted representing the county's Youth Engage Program (YEP). CYCG President Amanda Wang was the sole student interviewed (at 1:56 in the video).
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=msW56JCIe8s
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=msW56JCIe8s
Upcycle Class at HCLS
CYCG will host monthly upcycling classes to the community at Howard County Library Elkridge Branch. Join us in turning trash into treasure. All artworks are made from recycled items such as magazines, paper, toilet paper rolls, milk cartons, cans, eggshells, and more. See details here.
Howard County Library Elkridge Branch
6540 Washington Blvd, Elkridge, MD 21075
Saturday, 10/21, 11/18, 12/16, 12pm-2pm
Ages 6+
No registration needed.
Howard County Library Elkridge Branch
6540 Washington Blvd, Elkridge, MD 21075
Saturday, 10/21, 11/18, 12/16, 12pm-2pm
Ages 6+
No registration needed.
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CYCG Youth Engagement Program (YEP!) EnvSmart 2023
Funded by the Howard County Youth Engagement Program (YEP!) Grant, CYCG launched the EnvSmart Project in the summer of 2023 to prompt environmental sustainability, composting, and upcycling.
CYCG students will make, distribute, and educate HoCo residents to use FREE DIY Bokashi Buckets for indoor composting. Worth about $70 on Amazon. The upcoming seminars and distribution events will be announced later.
Only recycling is not enough. This is why CYCG also prompts upcycling. In the recycling process, items are broken down to be reused which degrades the value of materials. Paper and plastic are shredded and glass is smashed. However, in the upcycling process, items are considered as a resource and given a second life and new function in a creative way. For example, paper can be upcycled as paper bracelets, necklaces, or earrings; brown shopping bags can be reused as beautiful gift wraps and paper flowers.
CYCG believes that environmental education should start at an early age, helping the youth form a lifetime habit and instilling the concept of conservation in their minds. Conservation can be done every day simply and efficiently.
CYCG students will make, distribute, and educate HoCo residents to use FREE DIY Bokashi Buckets for indoor composting. Worth about $70 on Amazon. The upcoming seminars and distribution events will be announced later.
Only recycling is not enough. This is why CYCG also prompts upcycling. In the recycling process, items are broken down to be reused which degrades the value of materials. Paper and plastic are shredded and glass is smashed. However, in the upcycling process, items are considered as a resource and given a second life and new function in a creative way. For example, paper can be upcycled as paper bracelets, necklaces, or earrings; brown shopping bags can be reused as beautiful gift wraps and paper flowers.
CYCG believes that environmental education should start at an early age, helping the youth form a lifetime habit and instilling the concept of conservation in their minds. Conservation can be done every day simply and efficiently.
CYCG DIY Indoor Composting Bucket
CYCG designed low-cost indoor composting buckets: Bokashi Bucket. They DIYed them and shared with friends and neighbors. The Bokashi bucket is an easy and green composting method. CYCG students have hosted multiple educational seminars to advocate the indoor composting and distributed 200 free DIY buckets to the community. The similar product on Amazon is about $60-$70 each.
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Bokashi Brochure
2023 Summer 6-week Upcycling Camp
CYCG volunteer students shared many amazing projects to teach you about how to upcycle your daily items: paper, milk carton, boxes, water bottles, eggshells, cans, fabric, and more. The 6-week free summer upcycling camp was run successfully between 7/5/2023 to 8/9/2023.
CYCG Upcycling Camp
Location: HCLS Central Branch 2nd floor CEN Studio
Address: 10375 Little Patuxent Pkwy, Columbia, MD 21044
Date: 7/5/2023-8/9/2023
Time: Wed 6pm-8pm
Wk1 (7/5): Paper Beads Bracelet & Earring
Wk2 (7/12): Toilet Paper Roll Gift Box or Art
Wk3 (7/19): Paper Rose & Tulip
Wk4 (7/26): Milk Carton Desk Organizer
Wk5 (8/2): Eggshell Photo Frame
Wk6 (8/9): Can Pencil Holder
Interested in earning SSL hours and the President Volunteer Service Award? Please sign up here as a volunteer student.
Interested in registering for the camp? Please register for free here.
CYCG Upcycling Camp
Location: HCLS Central Branch 2nd floor CEN Studio
Address: 10375 Little Patuxent Pkwy, Columbia, MD 21044
Date: 7/5/2023-8/9/2023
Time: Wed 6pm-8pm
Wk1 (7/5): Paper Beads Bracelet & Earring
Wk2 (7/12): Toilet Paper Roll Gift Box or Art
Wk3 (7/19): Paper Rose & Tulip
Wk4 (7/26): Milk Carton Desk Organizer
Wk5 (8/2): Eggshell Photo Frame
Wk6 (8/9): Can Pencil Holder
Interested in earning SSL hours and the President Volunteer Service Award? Please sign up here as a volunteer student.
Interested in registering for the camp? Please register for free here.
Week 1 (7/5/2023) - Paper Bracelets and Earrings
The global consumption of paper was about 408 million tons in 2021. This is projected to continue rising. How can you upcycle paper, magazines, flyers, gift wraps, and cartons? CYCG shared a very simple way to upcycle daily paper into beautiful bracelets and earrings. They are unique and perfect gifts for your loved ones!
Instructor: Amanda Wang
Instructor: Amanda Wang
Week 2 (7/12/2023) - Toilet Paper Rolls Upcycling
On July 12, 2023, 27 community participants joined our Upcycling class. Everyone had such a fun time making beautiful and creative things from toilet paper rolls. We saw so many fun creations like an owl, crab, peacock, cat, lion, butterflies, and many personalized pencil holders! Some campers also made bracelets and earrings! The event was a great success!
Instructor: Amanda Wang
Instructor: Amanda Wang
Week 3 (7/19/2023) - Paper Flowers
On July 19, 2023, CYCG shared how to make pretty paper roses and tulips from paper, flyers, shopping bags, magazines, napkins, and newspaper. The students turned the class into a beautiful garden within 2 hours! One student made a rose and gave it to his mom as an appreciation gift. Someone even made a basket to hold the flowers. Turning useless papers into pretty flowers can be so much fun with imagination and creativity!
Instructor: Lily Zhang
Assistants: Amanda Wang, Joy Zhang, and Grace Chen
Instructor: Lily Zhang
Assistants: Amanda Wang, Joy Zhang, and Grace Chen
Week 4 (7/26/2023) - Milk Carton Desk Organizer
On July 26, 2023, CYCG played with magic again by turning empty milk cartons into pretty desk organizers! CYCG also shared many simple ways to upcycle milk cartons into things like plant pots, pencil holders, bird feeders, toy houses, wallets, and more. Students are thrilled by their final artworks. Big thanks to the volunteers who helped collecting the milk cartons for us in the last 2 months! Without your help, we couldn't have made it happen!
Instructor: Amanda Wang
Instructor: Amanda Wang
Week 5 (8/2/2023) - Eggshell Photo Frame
On August 2, 2023, CYCG shared how to make unique photo frames with eggshells! The class was run at full capacity aged from 4-year-olds to adults. Everyone enjoyed turning their imagination into things like flowers, an octopus, cherry blossoms, stars, universes, butterflies, fire, bird nests, and more. Upcycling can be so much fun and easy. How will you upcycle?
Instructor: Amanda Wang
Assistants: Lily Zhang, Joy Zhang, and Grace Chen
Instructor: Amanda Wang
Assistants: Lily Zhang, Joy Zhang, and Grace Chen
Week 6 (8/9/2023) - Can Pencil Holder
On August 9, 2023, CYCG taught students how to make Can Pencil Holders from tin/aluminum cans, glass and soda bottles, and tennis ball containers. We had over 40 participates, and in total created over 60 beautiful pencil holders. Students also proudly showcased the artworks they made during this 6-week summer camp. Meghan Lynch, a representative from the County Executive's office, visited the YEP! program and praised the students as a "Role Model of the state and county for helping the environment."
The CYCG reflection video brought back a lot of sweet and unforgettable memories, and the Brochure team presented how to use the DIY Bokashi Buckets. So far, CYCY has distributed 160+ DIY buckets to the community, each handed out with an educational brochure made by CYCG students. Many students really enjoy the camp and the upcycling process, and some have even asked us when the next session will be. We do not know yet, but we will update you when we have our schedule all planned out. Thank you all for your participation and support!
Instructor: Lily Zhang
Assistants: Amanda Wang and Grace Chen
The CYCG reflection video brought back a lot of sweet and unforgettable memories, and the Brochure team presented how to use the DIY Bokashi Buckets. So far, CYCY has distributed 160+ DIY buckets to the community, each handed out with an educational brochure made by CYCG students. Many students really enjoy the camp and the upcycling process, and some have even asked us when the next session will be. We do not know yet, but we will update you when we have our schedule all planned out. Thank you all for your participation and support!
Instructor: Lily Zhang
Assistants: Amanda Wang and Grace Chen
CYCG Gave Out DIY Bokashi Buckets at National Night Out
On August 1, 2023, CYCG proudly participated the 2023 Howard County National Night Out Event, hosted by Howard County Police Department at Wilde Lake Middle School, 6pm to 9pm. Among 61 vendors, CYCG was the only student-led organization.
CYCG's DIY Bokashi Buckets turned out to be the most popular giveaway booth in the event. Students distributed 90 DIY buckets with DIY water bottle inserts, 1 pound bags of Bokashi bran, and educational brochures. CYCG also hosted an upcycling booth to teach kids how to make paper bracelets. Both programs were sponsored by the Howard County Youth Engagement Program (YEP!). Residents visited the booth and learned about the easy and simple indoor composting method. The event went very successfully and CYCG received a lot of accomplishments for their efforts.
CYCG's DIY Bokashi Buckets turned out to be the most popular giveaway booth in the event. Students distributed 90 DIY buckets with DIY water bottle inserts, 1 pound bags of Bokashi bran, and educational brochures. CYCG also hosted an upcycling booth to teach kids how to make paper bracelets. Both programs were sponsored by the Howard County Youth Engagement Program (YEP!). Residents visited the booth and learned about the easy and simple indoor composting method. The event went very successfully and CYCG received a lot of accomplishments for their efforts.
