Nicodemus Wilderness Project -- Global Registry of Apprentice Ecologists

Every since I can remember, I have always been encouraged to recycle and conserve energy. This principle took an entirely new form, when my high school teacher suggested that students in my Biology class explore the various green resources made available to students in our school. The teacher expressed that the assignment would not be graded or counted for extra credit, but that it would be helpful in raising awareness among our peers of the various renewable energy resources around our school. Myself as well as a group of friends decided to take on his challenge. We discovered that our school has solar panel roofing, which helps to conserve energy. Each classroom contains motion-activated lighting. This lighting is very helpful because it automatically turns off when classrooms are empty for more than five minutes. The libraries have energy efficient printing. The school printers go into energy saving mode when unused for more than ten minutes. Students are also encouraged to double side all print jobs through fun flyers throughout the school. Likewise, students are encouraged to recycle plastic bottles. At the end of each hallway in the school, there is a recycling bin for plastic bottles and cans. Students who volunteer to sort the recycling are given service hours for their contribution to making our school green. This project was very beneficial in helping myself as well as other students to realize how green my school truly was. This project opened my eyes to student programs, I was unfamiliar with and allowed me share those programs with other students who might have been unaware as well.