The environmental club of Beaver Area is entering its twentieth year of existence, and founder (and still current teacher sponsor) Mrs. Patti Keith has some exciting plans for this year in the program.

If you’re unfamiliar with the club, they are the group of students that empty all the recycling bins around the school and conduct regular garbage pick-ups around the Beaver Area campus.

“The club meets once a month, typically the first Monday of the month after school. We are responsible for the recycling around the school, and we are looking into other things. We did a campus [trash] pick-up earlier this fall; we got 12 pound of trash from outside the school,” said Mrs. Keith.

Once a month, the students in environmental club collect all the green paper recycling bins in the school and move the paper to the green and yellow recycling dumpster in the teacher parking lot, next to the track.

The club is also looking into fundraisers like planting a tree on campus and selling reusable water bottles to cut down on the waste of students carrying disposable plastic water bottles.

“Back in the day we used to plant trees; a lot of the trees on campus have been planted by the club a long time ago—we’re looking to do that again,” explained Mrs. Keith.

Enviro-thon is a big event held at Brady’s Run Park. It is much like an environmentally themed academic games. Beaver has never sent a team, but Mrs. Keith hopes that will change this year.

“We’ve never, in 20 years, sent a team; we have gotten kids who are interested, but it happens in the spring so they get busy with all the AP testing and people get so busy, but I’m really trying to get a team,” Mrs. Keith stated.

“This year the environmental club is becoming much more active. We are researching how to reduce waste, lessen the school’s impact on the environment. We still continue to collect the recycling and we’re looking ahead to fundraise for to plant a tree for Arbor Day! New members are always welcome and are needed! Environmental Club is a fun way to get involved in the school and help give back,” says avid junior member Sarah Gido.

If you are interested in participating in this very educational and enriching club, attend the next meeting December 10.