| Environmental clubs are a mainstay in schools and | | | | waste, and not to transfer trash disposal responsibilities |
| colleges. They reflect the school's commitment to | | | | from the school to home)? Will they understand the |
| community and the students' eagerness to create | | | | impact of the activity? (The average school age child |
| positive change in the world. By establishing an | | | | generates 67 pounds of waste per school year, the |
| environmental club, students acquire skills to identify | | | | equivalent of 13,000 pounds of waste per year for a |
| problems, investigate alternatives and propose | | | | school with 200 students.) |
| solutions that will contribute to a better school | | | | Of course communication is key to creating |
| environment and tread lighter on the earth. Whether | | | | understanding and ownership among everyone |
| you are just starting an environmental club or are | | | | involved beyond the club membership. Regular |
| looking for ideas to ramp up your activities in time for | | | | communication will help teachers, students and parents |
| Earth Day, here are 3 questions to give your team | | | | keep the environmental issues on their minds. But |
| focus and impact. | | | | rather than simply repeating your club's message over |
| 1. Who is missing from the discussion? | | | | and over, try sharing best practices, testimonials, |
| Clearly, too many members in a club will hinder its | | | | where the school is at in meeting its goal, and any |
| ability to create a unified vision, make decisions and | | | | lessons learned. |
| carry out tasks. But a strategic sampling of students | | | | 3. Have you gone beyond the cliché? |
| and teachers, who have strong ties to other groups of | | | | Think of ways to inspire your club beyond planting a |
| students, administrative staff, custodians and the | | | | tree and picking up litter in the park on Earth Day. |
| school community, is necessary. A diversity of student | | | | Evidence of an inspired environmental club is when |
| participants will spread enthusiasm throughout the | | | | environmentally-responsible practices have permeated |
| student body and avoid the stigma of an | | | | different aspects of the school, from daily operations |
| environmental clique. Encourage specific individuals to | | | | to school ground greening to student learning. How |
| join the club. They may just need a little nudge. | | | | about a green prom, field trips to the local landfill, or |
| Consider inviting special guests to participate during | | | | fundraisers to purchase eco-friendly school supplies? |
| key discussions. If the custodians have not been | | | | The Teens Turning Green chapter at San Rafael high |
| consulted on the energy conservation efforts, or if the | | | | school in California recently carried out a series of |
| purchasing officer is not included in the investigation into | | | | fundraisers, including hike-a-thons and bake sales to |
| green school and cleaning supplies, chances are high | | | | purchase 9 sets of AusPen refillable and non-toxic |
| that your club will be seen as pushing an agenda, | | | | dry-erase markers. Those 9 kits mean that the |
| instead of creating momentum. | | | | environmental club has saved 2,215 markers from |
| 2. Do the activities have meaning to those outside | | | | going to the local landfill. There's nothing like original |
| the club? | | | | ideas to inspire a school community into action. |
| If the parents are told the school will start boomerang | | | | Including the right people in your club's discussions, |
| lunches and discover that means the lunchboxes will | | | | generating a true appreciation for your activities, and |
| come home smothered in yogurt and half-eaten food | | | | thinking outside the box for original club activities should |
| scraps, will they understand the issue being addressed | | | | mobilize your club to take green to the next level. |
| (i.e. to increase awareness of food and packaging | | | | |