Ecology Club Celebrated Earth Day

The Newtown High School Ecology Club held an Environmental Fair on Friday, April 27. The fair was held to celebrate Earth Day, educate people about global warming, and encourage students to make small changes.

A poster display introduced environmentally friendly activities to the students. One poster showed both the cost savings and carbon dioxide (CO2) savings as a result of switching one 60 watt incandescent light bulb for one 15 watt compact fluorescent light bulb.

Club member Lindsey Jones made a poster asking people not to buy Kimberly-Clark paper products (e.g., Kleenex) because the company uses no postconsumer waste in their products. Instead, students should read labels and look for paper products that use postconsumer waste.

There was also a table showing students the correct receptacles to use for garbage, white paper for recycling, and plastic bottles for recycling.

A raffle was held for door prizes that had been donated by Target, Lexington Gardens, Our Little Greenhouse, and Lauren Busser. To enter into the door prize raffle, students had to make a pledge to do something to promote a healthy environment. Students made pledges to do such things as recycle more, carpool, pick up litter around their neighborhood, plant a tree, turn off lights, and unplug cell phone chargers, among others.

 Global Voice, another NHS club, sold scarves made from old sweaters and ribbons. Its members also turned some “garbage” into art; for example, there were wind chimes made from soda cans. Haley Keene made an art piece of an Earth made out of plastic grocery bags that is currently on display in the Library Media Center.