The American Chemical Society mentions that Sustainable and Green Chemistry “enable scientists and engineers to protect and benefit the economy, people and the planet by finding creative and innovative ways to reduce waste, conserve energy, and discover replacements for hazardous substances.” With this in mind, the environmental high school club, “Green Avengers”, sought to create such opportunities within their community. This dynamic group of Manlius Pebble Hill (New York) Upper School students’ mission was to promote local and global citizenship starting in their very own backyards. This poster will highlight several projects that were successfully undertaken by the Green Avengers that led to changes in their local high school and community such as: 1) using their greenhouse to grow greens served on the cafeteria’s salad bar; 2) actively promoting Earth Week in their community in grades PK - 12; 3) planting and raising marigolds for their neighbors; 4) hosting a sidewalk chalk festival (grades PK – 12) that focuses on sustainable initiatives; 5) leading initiatives to decrease plastic water bottles by advocating for water bottle filling stations; 6) helping their school move away from all styrofoam; 7) campaigning and successfully partnered with the Onondaga County Resource Recovery Agency’s (OCRRA) award-winning food scraps composting program and bringing it to MPH; 8) participating in the New York State Fair STEAM day, teaching over 500 kids how to make seed pods that assist urban wildlife; 9) holding can drives to raise project funds; and 11) partnering with Parents Association for Think Tank funding. The poster will then wrap-up with recent initiatives taken to partner with their local section of the American Chemical Society to extend their sustainable footprint in the First Annual Green Chemistry Think Tank. This event brought together community leaders and high school students from all over Central New York. It is hoped that such events will encourage other environmental clubs to advocate change, too.

Green avengers: An environmental club promoting local and global citizenship

2019 Spring National Meeting

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