Hoover After-School Program Helps School Go Green!

HOOVER AFTER-SCHOOL STUDENTS PROMOTE "REDUCE, REUSE, RECYCLE!"

 

Wayne Metro’s Hoover Action Institute at Hoover Middle School in Taylor was one of only 50 programs in the nation to be recently awarded a STEMester of Service grant through Youth Service America.  

 

The STEMester of Service is a semester-long service-learning program designed to engage students in addressing critical environmental needs through STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) education and hands-on learning. The Program is funded by Learn and Serve America, a program of the Corporation for National and Community Service.

 

Students have identified two major areas of concern:

 

School Cafeteria - 90% of their school lunch containers can be recycled rather than throwing them away.

 

Classrooms - Students have noticed a large amount of plastic water bottles that are thrown away in trash cans rather than being recycled.

 

In addition, Hoover After-School Students and Staff have the following objectives for the program:

 

• Collecting recyclables during lunchtime at a recycling station and using math skills to calculate the reduction of waste.
• Collecting organic food waste  during lunchtime to create compost for Wayne Metro community gardens. 
• Participating in the new City of Taylor curbside recycling program and working with local officials to get other schools on board.
• Using media and technology to launch a school-wide awareness campaign to reduce environmental waste.

 

Students are enthusiastically making plans for the 14-week service project to implement a "Go Green" campaign at their school, including the creation of a viral marketing campaign and a promotional PSA that will air on the main announcement TV and in the cafeteria for the next few weeks.

 

Students will also explore the science behind environmental waste reduction while implementing the program. The Go Green Project will officially kick off on Monday, January 16, 2012 (Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service). The program will conclude with a student award ceremony during Global Youth Service Day on April 20, 2012.

 

You can follow the Hoover After-School Program's progress in turning their school "Green" on their blog.