Issue link: http://latinschool.uberflip.com/i/133183
Lower School Environmental Club One of the most active student groups at Latin is the lower school environmental club, which was started by Tim Cronister, director of Student Life, with the help of the lower school science teachers in 2007. Open to grades one through five, the club meets weekly and currently has 18 regular members. One of the club's most frequent activities is collecting trash in Lincoln Park, near the flower gardens and the Lincoln statue where they often play. While the most basic form of environmental activism, this type of task goes a long way to encouraging children to feel ownership over the problem as well as possible solutions because the park is part of their real world, says Cronister. Plans for the environmental club during this school year have been aided in part by a Web site called cooltheearth.org. Latin parent Stephanie Comer provided information on this kid-friendly site that promotes environmental activities to schools. The lower school used the site's resources to produce a play on global warming, which club members performed in video format at a February lower school assembly. Since January and February are the months of highest usage of electricity, the characters of Bad Mr. Carbon, Good Mother Nature, and polar bears helped bring home messages about reducing one's carbon footprint. The polar bears lost their home because of global warming, and Mother Nature helped the students learn what the term means. Mother Nature reminded the lower school students that "humans need to start to take action." Two third-grade environmental club members, Lauren Salzman and Gemma Ryu, have taken the call to action to heart. As members of the club, they are urging classmates to think about joining and giving their time. Both are using what they have learned through the club in their own homes. Lauren comments that she is an early riser who thought the club would be interesting. "Now I am helping the school, and helping to save the world." Gemma agrees, and adds that "Helping with the play was fun, and we helped others learn about saving the earth." • – Linda Hennelly Lower schoolers offer advice on how to be environmentally friendly. Latin School of Chicago 19