Initiatives for the Westinghouse WAIT Program have been maintained from previous years.  Projects such as the Carolina Fence and portions of the Butterfly Garden have continued to be cared for to promote wildlife habitat and employee awareness.  In addition, bulletin boards in the Columbia Site facility hallways have been utilized and updated to provide employee education about the events onsite, as well as environmental concerns and promotion of wildlife.  A Site-wide newsletter named “The Pellet” has also been used to provide information of the WAIT events (twice per year), and information for joining the team.  WAIT Team members have also maintained food plots for deer and birds (birdfeeders).  In addition, a “Green Tips” electronic mail initiative providing environmental education to Columbia Site employees has continued. 

In March 2009 the team began plant Identification at the onsite Walking/Nature Trail for employees.  Two foresters from Harbison State Forest visited with several WAIT Team members.  This information was documented and mapped in order to help identify flora at the trail for future employee education information.

In April of 2009, the Columbia Westinghouse Site celebrated the completion of its WAIT Certification for the program.  Signage to promote and highlight the WAIT program have been placed onsite, as well.  Also, two more WAIT Day events were performed for community outreach in 2009.  Westinghouse hosted an Earth Day Event with Mill Creek Elementary (MCE) fifth grade students on April 22, 2009 that included educational projects related to native birds, bird feeders, and recycling information.  Also, bird houses and feeders were placed and woodpecker cavities installed in long-leaf pines around the around the Nature Trail.  Craft projects such as tile coasters, aluminum can planters and making bird nests from recycled and natural materials to appreciate the unique and clever methods of wildlife.

The second event celebrated South Carolina Arbor Day, promoting education about tree parts with actual examples and included tree ring counting activities to determine the age of the tree.  Also, information was presented about the beneficial uses of trees and facts about the conservation of energy they offer.  This is the theme for the 2010 National Arbor Day Poster Contest that was begun with the schoolchildren onsite.  When the kids complete them, WAIT Team members will bring the posters to Westinghouse employees to vote on a local winner, as well as sending the posters to the National Contest in March.  Themes of reduce, reuse, and recycle were also discussed as the children created holiday wreaths from recycled and natural tree products such as acorns, cardboard boxes and leaves.  In addition the Team planted a Sweet bay Tree (type of Magnolia) onsite that will also have a "sister tree" at Mill Creek Elementary to symbolize our commitment and special relationship to the school and appreciation of the environment.  In the end, a trivia game of Jeopardy was played to have fun while reinforcing the appreciation of trees and all of their benefits.

For next year, these initiatives are to be completed:  continued development of educational material for bulletin boards and pamphlets for employee education, creation of signage for WAIT designated wildlife areas, plant identification for the Nature Trail, and promotion of Backyard Habitats for employees’ homes.  In addition, creation of a honeybee habitat, a biodiversity study (inviting college/high school students to participate), sponsorship of an employee hunting safety demonstration, and two more events with the MCE students will be performed (Earth Day and a Fall Event).

The WAIT Team at the Columbia Site has maintained a diverse number of employees from differing departments from about 20 members. An executive WAIT Team of three personnel have remained from the start to steer the planning and administrative duties.  Please see the included photos for further demonstration of the events onsite.