UNION COUNTY, NJ — Elizabethtown Gas and Boys and Girls Clubs of Union County have teamed up to create a very special coloring book — and it’s by kids, for kids.
As part of its initiative to spread the message of energy efficiency, Elizabethtown Gas approached BGCUC’s Elizabeth club with an interesting idea. Why not have the kids at the club create a coloring book as a learning tool for other kids?
The joint effort culminated in a 27-page, colorful and informative coloring book that will be used by the gas company to educate and inform students throughout the state.
Tina Earley, Elizabethtown manager of government and community affairs, said that the club was fully engaged with the project. “They took it very seriously,” said Earley. “The club had an art teacher work with the kids to make sure we had drawings we could actually use. There was a lot of practicing involved and a lot of effort on their part.”
Susan Buck, program manager for energySMART, said that 27 kids participated, and 13 finalists were chosen to have their drawings included in the coloring book. All 27 drawings were included on the back page of the book. “We went to the Elizabeth club and gave them very specific design ideas based on energy efficiency,” said Buck. “We scrutinized all of the pictures.”
According to Buck, the goal of the coloring book is to teach kids about energy efficiency. “Our goal is to distribute these coloring books to children at community events,” she said. “The goal is to be sharing the message and hoping that kids will share that message within the home.”
The young participants were not told whose masterpieces were chosen to be a part of the book until they were unveiled at corporate headquarters. “It was the big reveal,” said Buck. “They did not know who made it into the book until that day.”
All of the entries were hung up throughout headquarters, and Buck said the kids loved seeing their work displayed. “There was lots of pointing and picture taking and oohs and ahhs,” said Buck. “There were lots of smiling faces.”
Earley said that the company is grateful to the club. “I do want to just reiterate how grateful we are to the Clubs of Union County,’ said Earley. “They took an idea that we had and helped make it a success.”
All of the kids got a copy of the coloring book, along with crayons and a certificate for participating in the project.