Frequently
Asked Questions
TICCIT is an outreach and educational program for school-aged children that highlights the renewability and sustainability of paper and paperboard packaging.
Any youth organization can participate in the program. The resources available on this site are free. There is a cost associated with the supplies, therefore many organizations value the opportunity to partner with a sponsor. PPC Member companies represent North American converters of paperboard packaging and their suppliers, therefore they have a special connection to paperboard’s sustainability story, but any local business can sponsor your program.
The program is highly customizable and has been taught to groups of 10 to 250! We have found that the program runs smoothly when you have approximately 1 volunteer for every 10 children.
The program starts with a highly customizable and interactive PowerPoint presentation that can be comfortably delivered in 20-30 minutes. After the presentation, students are invited to plant a tree sapling in a paperboard carton to take home to plant with their families and keep the conversation going. The carton, when planted directly in the ground, provides protection and a natural water funnel for the new tree. As the tree grows, the carton will break down and complete the "trees into cartons, cartons into trees" cycle.
TICCIT teaches students that trees are a sustainable crop just like fruits and veggies, highlights the many uses for trees and paper, and underscores the importance of recycling. And unlike many of the resources we extract from the earth, paperboard is inherently renewable and recyclable. Learn more.
- Tree saplings: You’ll need to order tree saplings at least 3 weeks before you administer the program. You’ll want to have at least one tree saplings per student to take home.
- Sapling box: You’ll need a sapling box or empty milk carton for each student to plant their sapling and take home to plant with their families.
- Soil: You’ll want to have extra soil for the students to use to plant their saplings, approximately 1 medium sized bag of dirt for every 20-25 students.
- Containers: We’ve found that it makes the assembly line cleaner and more organized when the students scoop the dirt from a large container or bucket. You’ll want 1 or 2 containers for every 20-25 students. Make sure to fill the dirt AFTER the container is put in place.
- Indoor/Outdoor Plan: This is a great exercise to host outside, in the grass or on pavement, weather permitting. Consider bringing newspaper or tarps if the weather doesn’t allow you to host the event outside.
- Planting Supplies: Make sure to have small shovels or trowels for the students to scoop the dirt into their sapling box. You’ll want 2 tools for every container.
- Photos: Make sure to designate a photographer to capture the special experience.
- Photo Release: Work with your organization to make sure that all students are permitted to be captured in photos and videos.
Many of our members have successfully reached out to sources ranging from your states’ Department of Agriculture, Department of Natural Resources, local nurseries, and online vendors to secure tree saplings. Use this Hardiness Zone search to identify the best tree saplings for your climate.
You can also order tree saplings online through the Arbor Day Foundation. You must order a minimum of 50 trees in multiples of 50. Orders must be placed a minimum of three weeks before your distribution date. Click here to see their upcoming shipping schedule for the Spring and Fall seasons.
See a list of local nurseries used by members:
Dykes and Sons Nursery
Tennessee
931-668-8833
The Jonsteen Company
California
888-387-3379
customerservice@jonsteen.com
Students can save their empty milk cartons, or your sponsor company may supply a sapling box using this dieline provided.
The presentation is editable and can be highly personalized. Provided that the message is consistent and factual, we are happy for you to adapt the program to fit your students’ unique needs. Check out these interesting and creative ways PPC Members customized the program to fit their community.
This hands-on learning experience was created to be hosted in the Spring, between April and June, depending on local climate. Many youth organizations like to use the program to celebrate Earth Day and Arbor Day.
TICCIT can also be scheduled during the Fall planting season.
The TICCIT program is ideal to be hosted in Fall. Planting in the fall gives trees an extra growing season before the stress of summer. The combination of cooler temperatures and fall rain allows trees to establish their roots, making it easier on them to adjust to extreme heat or drought in the summer.
Learn more about Fall planting through the Arbor Day Foundation.
We find that students are starting to learn about photosynthesis during these years, making it the perfect time to reinforce the idea that trees are a sustainable crop just like fruits and veggies, highlights the many uses for trees and paper, and underscores the importance of recycling.
No, you don’t. This program helps share information about sustainability, teaching our next generation that trees are a crop just likes fruits and veggies, and they can use paper without hurting the environment. Unlike many of the resources we extract from the earth, paperboard is inherently renewable and recyclable. Paper has a special story and we want everyone to share it!
TICCIT is a registered trademark of the Paperboard Packaging Council. You are permitted to use the logo as long as you don’t change or alter it in any way. If you host a TICCIT program in your community, we hope you will share your experience with us so that we can keep track of how many trees have been planted through the program. Email janice@paperbox.org with your results or questions.