Meet the Green Team

Meet the Green Team at West Liberty-Salem Schools in Urbana, Ohio. They're a group of students in the third through seventh grades, who, along with twelve staff members, work to raise awareness at school and in the local community about environmental problems and solutions. The Green Team adopts a new theme each year and helps educate fellow students, staff and parents as well as convince them to change daily habits in favor of a healthier environment.

Green Team members work with students in the younger grades to create environment-themed decorations and information to post on the walls. The students enjoy make daily announcements offering tips on how living a greener lifestyle can help address environmental problems. They also created an ongoing program in which fellow students are eligible for prizes after being "caught" doing something good for the planet.

In the community, the Green Team partners with local businesses and organizations to help raise awareness about environmental issues. The students and staff work with Logan County Solid Waste, the Autistic Unit and the National Honor Society to implement their school recycling program. The library lends a hand by providing a drop-off location for used ink cartridges and an athletic shoe store participates in the annual shoe drive. The Green Team also works with the local Lions Club to host clean-ups around town.

Educator Julie Nieman, a staff member on the Green Team, says the best way to create a successful environmental group at school is to make it fun.

"Find like-minded people that will support your efforts and then work together to brainstorm how to include everyone in your school in different ways and make it fun," she said. "The more fun it becomes, the more interest you will receive and the better your message will be received."

Submitted by Julie Nieman, West Liberty-Salem Schools

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