The SIS Environmental Club is a student-run club that is in its third year at Shorewood Intermediate School.
The student-constructed mission statement of the club is:
“The SIS Environmental Club spreads awareness through service projects and works to find ways to make our land, water and air healthier. Our goal is to educate people about the small things they can do to make our local and global environment better."
Last school year, club members worked tirelessly to organize a school-wide lunch hour composting program that was set to begin after spring break, but with the COVID pandemic throwing a wrench in the plans, the program never got off the ground.
Despite these challenges, the club has reformed for the 2020-21 school year and is finding other ways to help out the environment. Club members—25 total expressing interest—along with club advisor, SIS teacher Sarah Kopplin, meet virtually on Mondays to plan in-person, socially distanced, projects such as beach and park cleanups, most recently clean-ups coordinated at Estabrook Park (pictured) and Atwater Beach.
All volunteers for the clean-ups wear masks and stay six feet apart from each other.
“I see a lot of negative environmental changes happening in the world right now,” says club member, SIS eighth grader Jevaeh Tillman. “I joined the club because I have the ability to help, so why not? I enjoy being able to interact safely with others in person while doing work for the environment and it’s really calming and fulfilling.”
Fellow club member, SIS eighth grader Claire Pielmeier adds “I joined because I am scared of what our environment will be like when we are older and I want to make sure I do my part so it doesn’t get to a point where we can’t fix it. I have loved seeing that so many other students are also interested in helping out the environment and participating, despite the pandemic. It’s really rewarding to see and be a part of.”
If you’re interested in assisting with the SIS Environmental Club or would like to learn more information, please contact Sarah Kopplin at [email protected].
