Student Green Dream Team Wins Conservation Prize

March 14, 2014
By Justin Brown

With spring just around the corner, some people might be happy about all the melting snow and ice. But for a group of elementary students, melting ice in the arctic is a bad thing—it threatens the habitat of polars bears and signals a warming climate.

Some sixth graders from McKeesport, Pennsylvania decided there was something they could do to reduce their carbon footprints, and help fight climate change.  The students from South Allegheny Elementary created a sustainability plan which won a prize from Polar Bear International's Project Polar Bear. 

They called themselves the Green Dream Team, and under the direction of teacher Jenna Whitney, made a list of things students are doing and could do to help the environment. 

Faith Allan recited the well-known phrase, “ Reduce, reuse, recycle.”  She said using less water, taking shorter showers, and buying things with less plastic were also good ways to be more green. 

Her favorite part of the project was “A Thousand Acts of Green,” where every student in school pitched in and accomplished one green thing in their classroom.

Kennedy Pikula said switching off lights when you’re not using them, and shopping at local grocery stores was important.  She said she hopes to influence others by sharing what she and other students have done.

Zack Martin’s top picks for reducing his carbon footprint were recycling paper, using refillable bottles, and no styrofoam, because he said it never goes away.

For Carissa Sullinger reusing materials until they cannot be used again and buying less were climate-change busters.  She also suggested adjusting the thermostat to two up in the summer, and two down in the winter.

Madi Kirkwood said the most important thing is to take your reusable bags to the grocery store.

The students’ efforts won them recognition from Polar Bear International, a nonprofit which hopes to save polar bears by preserving Arctic ice.  The Green Dream Team took home first prize in the organization’s Cub category.