While the Earth Day holiday is officially April 22, you can help make every day “earth day” by “investing in our planet for a green and sustainable future” Join EcoClub, an energized team of students at GHS co-advised by Rachael Grady and John Haley and driven by Project Manager Chloe Blanchard, for some exciting and educational upcoming events.
This year, the team is celebrating “Earth Week” to expand upon their mission of education and action to mitigate the Climate Crisis. They will begin the week by attending “ecofest” (hosted by ecomaine) on April 22 from 11 a.m. – 1 p.m. at Wescustogo Hall in North Yarmouth. “ecofest” is a celebration of ways to protect the earth and features presentations and exhibits from around the state of Maine.
Sunday, April 23 is “Gorham Cleans Up!” organized by Bill Moreno. EcoClub students will be helping pick up litter along the roads near GHS, protected by the Gorham VIPS.
Photo credit: Rachael GradyGHS Senior, Mason Starkey shares his original graphic design used by the GHS EcoClub to celebrate and commemorate Earth Week.
During the school week, the team will be posting wheat-based signs around town, conducting a second GHS cafeteria trash/composting audit, hosting a Kahoot! game online during Monday Advisory and an outdoor activity during Thursday Advisory, leading nature walks and multiple opportunities to learn outdoors for the GHS school community. The week will culminate with an interactive presentation by Nate Cronauer of ecomaine in MPAC for any Gorham High School student with a free period 4, or who wants to sign up for the school-wide session from 1-1:30 on Friday, April 28.
Chloe Blanchard is one of the student leaders of the group. She has been recognized for her efforts to the cause including leading a trash audit that clearly showed the economic benefits of composting, serving as liaison between the school and the company that was employed (Garbage to Garden, which is their first venture into Gorham), presenting before the Gorham School Committee, and leading a multi-faceted media drive that included poster-making, social media posts, video collaboratives and writings about the importance of taking action now. On March 21 she represented GHS at the ecomaine Eco-Excellence Award Ceremony for the Gorham School District!
Chloe and all EcoClub members urge the Gorham community to:
- Take action now. Think of ways to reduce, reuse and recycle. Let’s all work together to solve the Climate Crisis!
- Consider the “Garbage to Garden” initiative. Every household in Gorham is eligible to sign up on the G2G website to get a composting bucket for food scraps and kitchen waste which is picked up weekly for $19 a month.
- Avoid plastic when possible! Reduce, reuse, recycle! Contact Rachael Grady (rachael.grady@gorhamschools.org) or John Haley (john.haley@gorhamschools.org) for ways to get involved in EarthSaving.