Whether you’re a kid or an adult, you can do your part—every day!

Putting Old Electronics to Good Use!

Believe it or not, you can launch a new business, MOLD kids into tomorrow’s leaders and help the environment all at the same time!

It takes vision, working with the right people, and accepting some risk with a bit of chaos tossed in for good measure.

Here’s how Joe Reilly shifted gears during the pandemic to launch a non-profit that helps the environment while giving a much-needed boost to young people, especially through scouting!

Reilly was doing commercial and residential real estate in Tucson and the Valley when the pandemic hit and dramatically changed just about everything. A group had donated a bunch of computer equipment to a church’s high school, and the students were supposed to fix them up and sell them as a fundraiser. Reilly stepped in to help.

For years, Reilly and his family have been part of scouting in Southern Arizona, starting with Girl Scouts and then adding Scouting America, which includes Cub Scouting, Scouting BSA, Venturing, Sea Scouts and Exploring. One of the Venturer Scouts at the high school thought that computer and electronics recycling could work as a non-profit organization, and Reilly went to work on building the 501(c)(3) in 2020.

Scouts helped give this green organization its name, “Keeper of the Grumper.” It’s where people, businesses or organizations can donate electronics. Grumper offers free data destruction on devices (for security) which will be either fixed up for resale or broken down so components can be recycled properly. A few lucky scouts get to learn about entrepreneurship (creating and managing a new business), and money from sales supports scouting and other programs that encourage young people to become leaders.

Reilly points out that most people know better than to toss their old electronics into the trash. “People are more environmentally conscious, and we give credit to the people who will search and search online to find someone who will take their old TVs, radios, old computers instead of put them in a landfill,” he says.

Unfortunately, he says that companies make electronics like printers that are only expected to last two or three years before you need a new one. If electronics end up in the trash, it’s bad for the environment. “When you put those things into the landfill, nature doesn’t recycle that kind of stuff easily,” he says. “There are heavy metals, you’ve got some precious metals and then all the plastic.” Plus, rechargeable devices can have lithium-ion batteries, which need special hazardous disposal treatment by the Grumper to prevent fires or even explosions.

What started as a grassroots environmentally based company has taken off! “We grow and get better every single year, and we’re lucky to work with as many kids as we do. They love to build stuff, and we also have troops that come in here and help us organize because we benefit them,” Reilly says. Keeper of the Grumper operates based on the 3 R’s: Reduce, Reuse, Recycle. Prices are surprisingly affordable for working computers, monitors and other still useful electronics that have been checked out. They even have typewriters and stereo equipment.

In its four years, about 1,200 tons of electronic equipment like flat panel TVs and electronic components have been reused or recycled and kept out of our landfills! Currently, there are locations in Tucson and Dallas and plans for opening a third in the Phoenix area as early as this fall. For more info, go to keeperofthegrumper.org.

Keeper of the Grumper is a grassroots environmental effort that benefits young people as they help turn the tide of electronic waste.

Wildflowers & More

Grab Some Seeds and Get Growing!

Do you have a green thumb? Have you ever tried to grow your own herbs or vegetables? Maybe you would like to see a plant start from a seed, sprout and then bloom. Plus, it could be really cool to eat a squash or tomato that you grew yourself!

This Earth Day, you can give a boost to the ecosystem in your own backyard by tending to some NATIVE plants and flowers. If you don’t have a big yard (or any yard) you might look into starting a container garden. You might even help nurture some precious pollinators like bees and butterflies by planting the right kinds of flowers.

One way to become a blossoming gardener is to check out your local library and find out if it has a seed library! Many public libraries allow you to check out seeds with the same library card that gives you access to books, movies and more! Library cardholders can get free seeds to plant in their own yards or container gardens. There may be certain limits to how many seeds you can get each time—for example, some libraries allow three packets of seeds per household each month.

So, what are you waiting for? Visit your local library or a nearby plant nursery and get growing!

Make Your Own Wildflower SEED BOMBS

This Earth Day, you can get crafty and help local pollinators at the same time. How? Make your own wildflower seed bombs!

With help from an adult, use this QR code to find the seed bomb instructions on Bear’s website. Research to find the best bee, butterfly and hummingbird-friendly flowers, then make your yard blossom!

Celebrate Earth Day at these Family Events

April 5 Earth Day Celebration & Ladybug Release • 9 to 11 a.m. at Flatiron Park, 100 N. Apache Trail, Apache Junction. www.apachejunctionaz.gov/calendar • Be a part of releasing thousands of ladybugs, plant seedlings, create arts and crafts, and more! The park will be filled with interesting facts about ladybugs and Palo Verde trees. Come and spend a morning in the park learning about our Earth and how to keep our environment healthy!

April 19 Chandler Earth Day Celebration • 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. at Chandler Nature Center, 4050 E. Chandler Heights Rd. www.chandleraz.gov/events/earth-day-celebration • The Chandler Earth Day Celebration brings the community together to show Mother Earth some love! Discover ways to live an eco-friendly lifestyle through crafts, activities, and information booths featuring a variety of organizations. Enjoy a day at the Chandler Nature Center and enjoy the beautiful landscape of Veteran’s Oasis Park while learning about conservation and sustainability. This is an all-ages event.

April 19–27 National Park Week • 23 National Parks & Monuments in Arizona nps.gov • Get outdoors and enjoy one of over 400 national parks! Entrance fees to the national parks are waived on April 19 to kick off the celebration happening April 19–27, 2025.

April 26 Earth Day at the Phoenix Zoo • 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at 455 N. Galvin Parkway. www.phoenixzoo.org/events/ • Our Power, Our Planet! We have the power to save our planet! Join us for games and activities and learn about conservation and renewable energy! Activities included with general admission.



April 27 Spring Butterfly Festival • 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Butterfly Wonderland, 9500 E. Via de Ventura, Scottsdale. Butterflywonderland.com • Butterfly Wonderland Foundation presents this FREE family-friendly festival. Enjoy a special butterfly release at noon, children’s crafts, games, face painting, fun tattoos, ASU’s Insect Lab, and free butterfly-themed gifts while supplies last. Children and adults are encouraged to dress up as your favorite butterfly to win prizes in our Butterfly Costume Contest following the noon butterfly release.