The Environmental Action Club is actively promoting environmental awareness on campus through cleanups, educational initiatives, and sustainable practices. With a small group of seven members, the club is seeking new participants to expand its efforts and tackle tougher challenges.
In a continued effort to promote environmental awareness on campus, the Environmental Action Club (EAC) is getting ready for more activities following a successful year of initiatives. Formed two to three years ago by a group of juniors, the EAC has made significant strides in engaging fellow students with environmental awareness.
Last fall, the club organized campus cleanups that encouraged students to come together to pick up litter and promote recycling efforts. They also created educational materials, including a video explaining what can and cannot be recycled.
Wierzba, the club advisor, emphasized the importance of proper recycling, stating, “If the recycling company finds out, we get charged and penalized for that. That’s what our group was trying to do, little by little, make people more aware of that issue.”
On Nov. 16, the EAC held another successful fall cleanup and is planning a similar event for the spring. Participation is open to all students, regardless of club membership, making it easier for those needing volunteer hours to get involved into other groups. “Invite the community to help the cleanups,” stated one member.
Wierzba shared the club’s future aspirations, saying, “We’ve talked about doing different things with trying to recycle other things than just the regular,” such as plastics, used shows, and even electronics. However, the club is currently facing challenges in recruiting more members and volunteers to support their environmental initiatives.
One project under consideration is transforming the rooftop into a garden, although funding for necessary materials remains a hurdle. Wierzba expressed enthusiasm for potential sustainability upgrades, stating, “It would be awesome to even introduce solar panels; it’s just a matter of how much people are willing to put into it.”
The EAC encourages the school community to adopt sustainable habits, such as biking, walking, or carpooling to school. Recent studies indicate that cars contribute significantly to individual carbon footprints. “Using reusable bags instead of plastic bags, some states don’t even use them anymore, moving away from that would be great,” Wierzba advised, along with other actions like using refillable water bottles and taking shorter showers. A ten minute shower alone wastes more than 50 gallons of water.
Currently, the EAC consists of seven members and one dedicated advisor. Despite their small size, the club is committed to expanding its impact and effectiveness in promoting environmental awareness on campus. To achieve this, the EAC is actively seeking new participants who are passionate about sustainability and environmental issues. By increasing their membership, the club aims to bring fresh ideas and perspectives, allowing them to implement more diverse initiatives and reach a broader audience.
New members would not only contribute to ongoing projects, such as campus cleanups and recycling education, but could also help explore innovative solutions. The EAC believes that a larger group would enhance their ability to organize events and raise awareness, ultimately fostering a more environmentally conscious community. “If there were more people to join in, it would greatly impact our community, helping us do more projects in the future,” stated one member.
Through outreach and engagement, the EAC hopes to inspire more students to join their efforts, making a positive impact on both the campus and the environment.
