Kathie diStefano, co founder Avalanche Arts, employs interactive techniques and theatre arts to create awareness for environmental themes among her audiences. Whatever the method, ranging one-time presentation or series of workshops, the objective remains the same: having fun while learning.
Operation Trash at Revius Middle/High School
Assembly for middle school students on the need to
decrease our trash production and increase our recycling,
including lessons and community cleanups
Sept – Oct 2022 Maassluis, the Netherlands
World Cleanup Day 2022
Ms Kathie will be visiting Dutch elementary schools
and community centers before, during and after
World Clean up Day, inspiring all to help clean up litter
in our nature. Sept 17th Vlaardingen & Rotterdam, Nederland
Seagull Mamma Tours Maryland
Through a collaboration with Arts for Learning Maryland
Kathie diStefano will be visiting elementary schools
with her comic one-woman show about the dangers of
litter in nature. Grades pre-K – 2nd grade
Oct 31st – Nov 10th 2022 Baltimore, USA and surrounding counties
The Eco News Show
A one-act play about trash & recycling
performed by 4th, 5th & 6th graders
June 2022 PWA, Vlaardingen, the Netherlands
Operation Trash
Building awareness for our environmental
challenges through creative and performing arts at The Mavo Vos Middle School
June 2022 Vlaardingen, the Netherlands
Operation Trash Virtual Exchange
A 7th grade class at Bay Brook Middle School in Baltimore
linked virtually with students from Wolfert Lansing,
a middle school located in the suburbs of Rotterdam, Nederland
Students shared stories about their culture and ways of
dealing with litter problems and recycling strategies
Feb – May 2022
Assembly for middle school students on the need to
decrease our trash production and increase our recycling,
including lessons and community cleanups
Sept – Oct 2022 Maassluis, the Netherlands
World Cleanup Day 2022
Ms Kathie will be visiting Dutch elementary schools
and community centers before, during and after
World Clean up Day, inspiring all to help clean up litter
in our nature. Sept 17th Vlaardingen & Rotterdam, Nederland
Seagull Mamma Tours Maryland
Through a collaboration with Arts for Learning Maryland
Kathie diStefano will be visiting elementary schools
with her comic one-woman show about the dangers of
litter in nature. Grades pre-K – 2nd grade
Oct 31st – Nov 10th 2022 Baltimore, USA and surrounding counties
The Eco News Show
A one-act play about trash & recycling
performed by 4th, 5th & 6th graders
June 2022 PWA, Vlaardingen, the Netherlands
Operation Trash
Building awareness for our environmental
challenges through creative and performing arts at The Mavo Vos Middle School
June 2022 Vlaardingen, the Netherlands
Operation Trash Virtual Exchange
A 7th grade class at Bay Brook Middle School in Baltimore
linked virtually with students from Wolfert Lansing,
a middle school located in the suburbs of Rotterdam, Nederland
Students shared stories about their culture and ways of
dealing with litter problems and recycling strategies
Feb – May 2022
Operation Trash Baltimore City is the result of a collaboration between Baltimore City’s Department of Public Works (DPW) and Avalanche Arts. A tool kit for DPW community liaisons and Baltimore City teachers has been created under the supervision of Kathie diStefano, head of educational development at Avalanche Arts. Slide shows, worksheets, teacher guides and links for inspiration have been put together to help teach students how important it is to throw trash away where it belongs. These tools incorporate interactive lessons, games and local hero’s stories brings the message home to Baltimoreans. Arts-based learning and social emotional learning strategies add color to the lessons, as well as plant seeds for understanding.
Operation Trash advocates ‘Thinking global and acting local’.
Operation Trash advocates ‘Thinking global and acting local’.
The Baltimore Rotterdam Sister City Committee (BRSCC) promotes cooperation, mutual understanding, and friendship between the citizens of Baltimore in Maryland, U.S.A. and Rotterdam in The Netherlands. Avalanche Arts has been collaborating with the BRSCC since 2011 when Harbortraces, a cultural exploration, was first launched. Since then Avalanche Arts has visited Baltimore yearly with workshops and performances.
harbortraces.org
harbortraces.org
Operation Trash Virtual Exchange
A social cultural program linking American & Dutch students
A social cultural program linking American & Dutch students
Operation Trash is an international virtual exchange program for students in Baltimore & Rotterdam to make them aware of trash pollution and how they can help address it.
The activities are designed & coordinated by Kathie diStefano from Rotterdam-based Avalanche Arts (Stichting Lawine). By doing research in their communities, participating in cleanups, and connecting with their peers overseas to learn about each other’s trash challenges, students learn how they can contribute to a cleaner and safer living environment, reduce litter, and increase their recycling efforts.
HarborTraces
Harbour Traces & Avalanche (Lawine)
Let’s “SEAL’’ our friendship
BaltimoreRotterdam.org
The activities are designed & coordinated by Kathie diStefano from Rotterdam-based Avalanche Arts (Stichting Lawine). By doing research in their communities, participating in cleanups, and connecting with their peers overseas to learn about each other’s trash challenges, students learn how they can contribute to a cleaner and safer living environment, reduce litter, and increase their recycling efforts.
HarborTraces
Harbour Traces & Avalanche (Lawine)
Let’s “SEAL’’ our friendship
BaltimoreRotterdam.org
Ms Kathie’s Seagull Mamma show is both an introduction to theater as well as a lesson in trash management and recycling for young audiences.
Through a collaboration with Young Audiences of Maryland, Ms Kathie has been visiting schools in Baltimore City. In recent years her show and visiting artist programs have taken her to Benjamin Franklin High, Wolfe Street Academy, Federal Hill Prep, Enoch Public Libraries, Lakeland Middle and Bay Brook Elementary School.
“Thank you for visiting Bay Brook Elementary Middle School to teach our students about keeping animals safe by disposing of trash and recycling properly. Your presentation had our students completely engaged. Because you use so much humor in your show, the students didn’t even realize they were learning. They are all still smiling and talking about the show. We would love to have you back to Bay Brook any time.” “ Ms. Woolley, Bay Brook Elementary, Baltimore City”
Through a collaboration with Young Audiences of Maryland, Ms Kathie has been visiting schools in Baltimore City. In recent years her show and visiting artist programs have taken her to Benjamin Franklin High, Wolfe Street Academy, Federal Hill Prep, Enoch Public Libraries, Lakeland Middle and Bay Brook Elementary School.
“Thank you for visiting Bay Brook Elementary Middle School to teach our students about keeping animals safe by disposing of trash and recycling properly. Your presentation had our students completely engaged. Because you use so much humor in your show, the students didn’t even realize they were learning. They are all still smiling and talking about the show. We would love to have you back to Bay Brook any time.” “ Ms. Woolley, Bay Brook Elementary, Baltimore City”
‘Kathie diStefano is a visiting artist for Young Audiences of Maryland’
Projects
Operation Trash for middle and high schools teaches the importance of good trash management and the problems that arise when we ‘trash’ our communities and pollute our planet.
Playing in a Cleaner Neighborhood, for elementary schools, offers lessons that teach the need for trash reduction, increased recycling and the effects of trash pollution on our environment.
Partners and collaborations
Workshops
Improvisational Theater
Impro designed to combine 'play' with learning about cooperation and the balance between leading and following. Playing improv games can be great fun and is a wonderful way to work on healthy group dynamics.
Impro designed to combine 'play' with learning about cooperation and the balance between leading and following. Playing improv games can be great fun and is a wonderful way to work on healthy group dynamics.
Professional Development Operation Trash workshop for professional development gives participants the opportunity to experience hands on how fun interactive exercises can enhance group dynamics, train focus and energize.
Community Outreach
Bringing people together to learn and share while having a good time.
Combining traditional strategies like food festivals and neighborhood cleanups to mobilize and inform residents about important community issues.
Bringing people together to learn and share while having a good time.
Combining traditional strategies like food festivals and neighborhood cleanups to mobilize and inform residents about important community issues.
Kathie diStefano employs interactive techniques and creative arts to build awareness for environmental themes.