2011 has arrived and with the New Year comes resolutions for change. Some resolve to diet or exercise or some start a new hobby…no matter what there is a sense of renewal as the clock strikes midnight, inspiring us to start a new adventure.
Over the past year I have had the pleasure of meeting thousands of youth—from elementary school kindergarteners to high school seniors—pledge to make a change that will impact their environment and their communities in a positive way. A school in Gulf Shores, AL, is selling reusable Vapur bottles as a fundraiser and promoting their use over bottled water. Their Citizen Environmental Organization (CEO) goes above and beyond your run-of-the-mill eco-club. Under the guidance of teachers Wil Tuggle and Debbie Kenyon, these students have been given the opportunities to showcase their environmental citizenship. Students have started a variety of additional programs, including one that collects uneaten fruits and vegetables to feed to animals at the local zoo. In 2011 they will launch a recycling campaign that will involve the entire school in an effort to reduce waste.
Recently, I had the pleasure of meeting these students and hearing their stories first hand during the launch of EarthEcho’s our Gulf Coast STREAM Bureau. My staff and I felt inspired and confident in their ability to become the leaders of tomorrow. They are truly environmental stewards who have responded to the call to action and have taken it upon themselves to make a change and educate others about the necessity of becoming aware of our actions that degrade and pollute out planet.
Seeing students like these is what inspires me to keep pushing for the change we need. As my grandfather and father did before me, I believe in the necessity of protecting and preserving our planet so that future generations may gaze in awe upon its natural beauty and enjoy the fundamental rights of access to clean water, fresh air and nature. Too often we forget that change starts with one: One water bottle not bought and thrown away to end up in a land fill, one plastic bag replaced by a reusable tote, one teacher who impacts the life of one student. It takes just one of us to pledge to protect our planet and preserve it for future generations.
There are already plenty of great opportunities for youth who have resolved to get involved in 2011. The National Environmental Education Foundation (NEEF) has a fantastic program called Planet Connect, which is offering grants of $1,000 and internships to students who come up with creative ways to protect wildlife in their community. EarthEcho has also partnered with NEEF and the NEA to recognize students and educators who are making a difference. The Annual Green Prize in Public Education will award $10,000 to a K-12 public school that implements an innovative, sustainable, and replicable school-wide greening project that involves its students. There are also two merit awards of $5,000 to be given to schools that demonstrate note-worthy programs. Last year I had the pleasure of awarding Mike Town from Redmond High School in Washington the inaugural prize. His Cool School Challenge program has helped educators and students reduce more than 1.5 million pounds of CO2 and other greenhouse gases at over 150 schools.
Opportunities like these are vital in the fight for a greener society. Becoming environmentally responsible often starts at school, where educators can teach youth—and vice versa!—about the importance of our natural resources and preserving our planet.
So here’s to making 2011 a year to remember. The time to start is now. As Anne Frank said, “How wonderful it is that no one need wait a single moment before starting to change the world.” Make a difference in your community. Inspire change and act as a catalyst so that those around you step up to the challenge. It all starts with one. It all starts with you.
