http://www.theithacajournal.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080405/NEWS01/804050340
Saturday, April 5, 2008
Ithaca Journal
Boynton students form 'Go Green' group
By Meghan Swope
(Note: the "Teachers for a Sustainable Future group mentioned in
this article was started by Tina, Michelle, Dan Flirlage of LACS, and
Elan and meets monthly in the Frog Common House)
ITHACA - Children are often told from a young age to "dream big" and
make a difference in the world. At Boynton Middle School, a group of
students is ensuring that their voices are heard - through a student
Environmental Action Club, which is partnering with the Tompkins
County "Go Green" Initiative.
Boynton science teacher Corinne Morton has always sought to
incorporate sustainable and humane education interests into her
classroom. So this fall, when many students approached her with
interests in these topics, she decided to develop a club that focused
on environmental action and awareness. With help from eighth-grade
social studies teacher Cindy Kramer and the support of Principal
Jason Trumble, the Boynton Environmental Action Club was born.
Boynton is the pilot school for the Ithaca City School District's new
recycling and composting program, so the club thought it would be
great to have Boynton join Tompkins County's "Go Green" Initiative.
To join the initiative, a school must recycle, compost, educate and
form a "Go Green" team of at least five staff members. The club
members knew Boynton was up for the challenge.
"The goal of our club and the school's "Go Green" initiative is to
motivate, educate and encourage staff and students to work and learn
at Boynton in a more environmentally friendly and conscious way,"
said Morton, who is also a member of the Tompkins County Teachers for
Sustainability Group.* "(The students) come up with so many amazing
ideas."
One of those ideas was an event that turned the tables on educational
roles, when students were given the opportunity at a recent staff
meeting to quiz teachers and staff about recycling, composting and
human impact on the earth.
Linnet Short and Kat McCarthy from Tompkins County Solid Waste
Management Division came to the staff meeting with the club's
students to give a "Go Green" presentation. In addition to the quiz,
students set up informational displays, taught the teachers how to
recycle old cards and calendars into envelopes, gave out
environmentally friendly door prizes and led the staff in a
student-created "Go Green" cheer.
In conjunction with Earth Day, the club is developing an educational
"Earth Steps" information trail that will run across the entire
school. A "Where Does Our Garbage Go?" presentation will run during
all lunch periods, and a "Be Kind to Animals Awareness Board" is in
the works. This spring the club will take its first field trip to
Farm Sanctuary in Watkins Glen.
The club also has an environmental blurb that is featured in the new
student-run newspaper, The Boynton Buzz.
Meghan Swope is an Ithaca College Park Scholar.
--
Elan Shapiro
Sustainable Tompkins Community Partnership Coordinator
Sustainable Living Associates, Principal
Frog's Way B&B
211 Rachel Carson Way
Ithaca, NY 14850
607-275-0249 607-592-8402 Cell
"We must be the change we want to see in the world"
Mohandas Gandhi
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