Center For Cultural Events

Dumpster Drummers to play for kids

Staff Reports
Thursday, 08 July 2010 00:00

AUBURN — The Children’s Series continues Saturday at 11 a.m. when the DeKalb Outdoor Theater and the county libraries present The Dumpster Drummers.

Local musicians Larry Ford, his son, Brandon, and Doug Laughlin have teamed with Kira Blanketor of the Allen County Solid Waste Management District and Matt Jones of Allen County Partnership for Water Quality to present a series of workshops that focus on recycling.

“Reuse, reduce, recycle,” said Larry Ford. “We address the reuse aspect. Making instruments out of things that might have ended up in the landfill improves our ecology and helps kids develop an awareness of our environment.”

Dumpster Drummers was born in 2009 when Ford met Jones and Blacketor, who wanted to add an element of entertainment to their school presentations.

“We realized we were all delivering a similar message,” Blacketor said. “We decided to join forces to create an environmental education/awareness program.”

“The goal is to make the kids aware of local recycling opportunities and to encourage them to participate because they can make a difference. Kids love the program,” Ford said. “They’re surprised at how good objects sound and blend together. We encourage them to ‘find’ a sound … by striking different areas.”

The program will conclude at noon with a lunch for all children under 14 who attend. For more information, visit larryfordmusic.com or dekalboutdoortheater.org.