The start of spring and Earth Day offer an opportune time to build your students’ awareness and create a service project around an environmental issue. First, choose a topic. (Examples include plastics in oceans and waterways, home recycling, recycling centers, city park clean-up, animal habitats, bicycle recycling, repurposing household items, water quality in waterways and energy conservation.) Second, invite a guest speaker to build members’ knowledge about the issue at a club meeting. Download “Conduct Interviews” from the Builders Club Service Meeting Kit to help members prepare and develop questions for the guest expert.
When students hear directly from an expert who can share ideas to address an issue, they get inspired. A guest who speaks about environmental issues can give them a fact-based understanding and provide ideas for meaningful service projects. If you can go off-campus, consider taking students to a nonprofit organization or government agency where they can hear from an expert and visit the site for real-world experience. Finally, use what your club learns — organize and carry out service that improves the environment!