Operation Rain Barrel - Competition and Silent Auction

Operation Rain Barrel

Sample of an artistic rain barrel from the 2012 Operation Rain Barrel


George Mason University’s Arlington Campus is proud to sponsor Operation Rain Barrel: a fun, creative project with Arlington Public Schools to engage students in learning about environmental sustainability as part of Mason’s Community Earth Week Fair.



The Office of Community & Local Government Relations at the Arlington campus has provided 25 rain barrels to participating Arlington Public Schools to be painted artistically. Additionally, Mason has provided the schools with educational information about rain barrels for teachers to incorporate into lessons as part of this project.



The artistic rain barrels will be showcased at Mason's Arlington Campus Founders Hall Gallery starting Monday, April 15 through the Community Earth Week Fair on Sunday, April 21, 2013. The barrels will be judged* and the top three winning entries will garner a $250 (1st place), $150 (2nd place), and $150 (3rd place) donation each for their schools. The prize money has been generously provided by Water Management, Inc.



Additionally, the artistic rain barrels will be auctioned off at the fair through a silent auction. Bidding on the barrels will run daily from Monday, April 15 until the fair on Sunday, April 21. Bidding will end at 3:00 pm on April 21st. The minimum opening bid for every barrel will be $65.



Proceeds from the auction will benefit the Arlington County Council of PTA's scholarship fund and George Mason University's Early Identification Program: a college prep program for middle and high school students who would be the first in their family to attend college. Last year's silent auction netted nearly $2000!



To view last year's barrels and learn more, click here.



Special thanks to the Northern Virginia Rain Barrel Program for their assistance with this project.



Official Prize Sponsor of Operation Rain Barrel:



Water Management Logo

Operation Rain Barrel School Participants

  • Arlington Mill Continuation Program

  • Arlington Traditional School

  • Campbell Elementary School

  • Carlin Springs Elementary School

  • Claremont Immersion Elementary School

  • Drew Model Elemetary School

  • Gunston Middle School

  • H-B Woodlawn Secondary Program

  • Kenmore Middle School

  • Key Elementary School

  • Langston High School Continuation Program

  • Long Branch Elementary School

  • McKinley Elementary School

  • New Directions Alternative Program

  • Nottingham Elementary School

  • Oakridge Elementary School

  • Patrick Henry Elementary School

  • Randolph Elementary School

  • Stratford Program

  • Swanson Middle School

  • Taylor Elementary School

  • Teen Parenting Program

  • Thomas Jefferson Middle School

  • Tuckahoe Elementary School

  • Wakefield High School

Special thanks to the judges*:

  • Angela Adams, Public Art Administrator, Arlington County

  • Susan Anderson, Operators Program Supervisor, Arlington County Treasurer's Office

  • Jay Fisette, Vice Chair, Arlington County Board

Arlington Earth Week

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