Earth Day is observed internationally on April 22.
Pollution, waste, environmental and habitat damage, and other issues can loom so large that it can be hard to know what to do. But outdoor clubs at two Vancouver Catholic elementary schools are putting solutions and a sense of wonder right into students’ hands.
You could say they are making every day Earth Day.
Weekly at St. Francis Xavier Elementary, members of the Outdoor Green Club spend lunch and recess walking around the neighbourhood and appreciating the scenery that surrounds them.
The goal, says teacher Mary Ellen Hanlon, is to get children to fall in love with nature so they will be invested in taking care of it. These rain or shine walks promote taking care of the land and bring students closer toward reconciliation with their Indigenous brothers and sisters, too. Often students can be seen scattering wildflower seeds, discovering crawly things under rocks, and identifying birds, trees, and flowers. Picking up litter with barbecue tongs is another often requested activity.
“Climate change can be frightening, but instilling joy and love in God’s creation can give our children the means and determination to find solutions,” said Hanlon.
Another opportunity for children to experience nature is the school’s Running Club. Students run along nearby False Creek and can glimpse great blue herons, red-winged blackbirds, and murders of crows perching in trees before heading east to Burnaby to roost. Habitat Island, near Olympic Village, is a favourite place to skip rocks or check out sea life near the shore.
To celebrate Earth Month, St. Francis Xavier students will enthusiastically sell and buy bags of popcorn on April 17 to support two causes: The Wild Bird Trust of BC and Raven Trust, a group that provides access to justice for Indigenous nations.
St. Jude Elementary also offers opportunities for students to work together, learn about the environment, and become stewards of it all year round. Nature Club, directed by teacher Carolyn Abela, offers students in Grades 4 and 5 eco-friendly activities, including indoor and outdoor projects, walks, and hikes.
During walks, students feel awe-inspired and amazed by how God designed creation and by the inner workings of ecology and nature. They learn about the different plants and trees found in the Lower Mainland and study the life cycle of a seed and how insects, birds, and animals are interconnected in the process. They see how many animals have adapted to urban settings from their natural forest environments. They even saw rare, magnificent barred owls during one of their hikes.
During fall and spring, students at St. Jude’s plant a variety of flowers on school grounds and near the Blessed Mother Mary Shrine, which students and parents see daily.
Before Christmas break, students make artwork out of natural materials collected from the outdoors. They team up with fellow classmates to make eco-friendly pots from newspapers to grow vegetables and flowers from seeds. From lettuce to zinnias, a plethora of plants are proudly grown. The Nature Club encourages and learns about the bee population by planting flowers and vegetables outdoors.
Nature Club also focuses on how to be better stewards of the resources God provides on Earth. One of the green initiatives the club has taken up is stopping the usage of non-reusable cutlery for hot lunches to limit waste in landfills. The Nature Club educated the school community to bring their own reusable forks and spoons every day for hot lunch. Students are also encouraged to take food scraps home for composting. The club also completes a weekly school playground clean-up and has held assemblies to promote a litter-free playground. They teach their peers to separate litter from what can be recycled and what goes in the landfill.
The highlight of the year for the Nature Club is Earth Week in April. The club puts on environmental skits for younger students to spread the word about conservation and sustainability. They have brought to the school exciting guest speakers from organizations like the OWL Rehabilitation Society, BC SPCA, and Northwest Wildlife Society. The goal of Nature Club during Earth Week is to show the impact of humans on the environment and how we can make changes for the betterment of everyone.
Nature Club is an energetic club doing its best to promote and educate the children of the future to be the stewards of nature God needs us to be.
Files from St. Francis Xavier and St. Jude’s schools.