In his show, Branagan contrasts natural resources with man-made resources and shows students the variety of substances that can be recycled. “I open a bag of trash and pull out cans, plastic containers, cardboard boxes, newspapers and other things that can be recycled. It doesn’t take long for the kids to get the idea that much of what we throw away can and should be recycled.”

Another item Branagan takes out of the trash bag is a plastic six-pack ring carrier. He asks what happens if rings are discarded improperly. Inevitably, someone mentions they can be harmful to birds and other wildlife. “We talk about the Hi-Cone Ring Leader program and how much fun it can be to bring plastic rings to school and hang them on the collection tree,” said Branagan.

According to Hi-Cone’s recycling coordinator, Angie Donati, the company receives numerous requests every year to enroll in the program from schools where Branagan has performed. “Jack might be our top Ring Leader recruiter because his presentations are so compelling. They motivate the children to get involved in recycling and Ring Leader makes it easy for them,” Donati said.

Branagan created “Our Home Planet Earth” in 1998 to help school children realize it is everyone’s responsibility to protect and conserve the earth’s natural resources. The show’s trademark six-foot-diameter globe is used to show the earth’s relationship to other planets and demonstrate how day turns into night and vice versa.

A former elementary school teacher, Branagan started performing in 1980 and in the past 25 years has done more than 7,000 shows throughout New Jersey, Pennsylvania, New York, Delaware and Connecticut.

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