Environmental club members Addie Newcombe (background) Stephanie Shaw, Iris Parker Pavitt and Emily Diepenbrock plant trees in front of Orcas Elementary school last Saturday
Iris Parker Pavitt, Orcas High School Junior and new President of the school’s Environmental Club, is full of ideas and the energy to put them into action. Last weekend, she and a group of fellow Environmental Club leaders, planted apple and grape trees in front of the historic Nellie Milton Elementary School building.
Emily Diepenbrock, Stephanie Shaw and Addie Newcombe joined Iris at the freshly-reclaimed gardens to plant three apple trees and two grapevines. The plants were purchased from Bullock’s Permaculture Homestead, with funds raised at a Club bakesale.
The group was aided by Iris’ father, Bruce Pavitt, and by Madie Murray, of the Farm-to-Cafeteria committee.
Iris expressed appreciation to school custodian Buzz Casson for clearing away the Morning Glory and other weeds that had choked the garden until this summer. “Buzz really gave us a great head start, removing all the bindweed, and we thank him so much.”
The tree planting comprises the main part of the Environmental Club entry in the “Green Your School” contest, sponsored by the national Student Conservation Association, with a first-place award of $5,000, and two second place prizes of $2,500 each.
The contest’s guidelines require that the project involve the community, environmentally enhance the school, and be sustainable after the initial effort. The tree planting “seemed a natural joining of the school with such an important issue,” said Iris. The judging will be in early November.
Iris has been in the club, formerly known as the Ecology Club, for two years. There are about 15 members, advised by Biology Teacher Gregory Books.
The Environmental Club hopes to raise funds for a train trip to Hanford Nuclear Power Plant in eastern Washington this spring. In anticipation of that project, the club is studying the environmental impacts of placing a nuclear reactor close to the Columbia River, its impacts on neighboring communities, and the problems of nuclear waste.
The Club also plans activities along with their study of the issues. On Oct. 30, they will sponsor a Costume Dodge Ball Tournament in the High School Gym at 7:30. A carnival atmosphere will prevail, with popcorn, cake walks and games as well as the dodge ball playoffs. Sign-ups call for 10 people on a team for $20, or $2 a person. Iris promises that the night will be “family-friendly” so that younger kids can play.
The Environmental Club meets Mondays after school in the High School Commons area.
