DALTON, Mass. — Wahconah Regional High School students are cultivating an environmentally friendly atmosphere in its school, across the district, and now, thanks to a partnership with the Green Dalton Committee, into their communities.

 

As the grass continues to get greener many communities are preparing for Earth Day, April 22, but the school's Green Umbrella Club and Dalton's Green Committee question why limit it to one day?

 

With spring break just days away, club members organized several events to promote eco-friendly habits and environmental awareness, from a Family Feud competition, bake sale, golden-trash scavenger hunt, and a prize wheel activity at lunch.  

 

"It brings a more positive association with taking care of our environment," said Ella Scalise, senior and Green Umbrella Club secretary. 

 

School is a very structured environment where students are often directed on what to do. Earth Week activities introduce the topic in a fun and engaging way, with the goal of fostering environmentally friendly habits, she said. 

 

Taking care of the environment is something that some people do not consistently think about so incorporating it in fun activities and events makes it memorable, said Ellianna Chaffee, junior and Green Umbrella Club member. 

 

When the last bell rings, the experience doesn't end, as students can also take part in Dalton's townwide activities, including a guided birdwatch, a walk and cleanup at the Pines Trailhead, Family Feud, and a townwide scavenger hunt, all culminating in an Environmental Spectacular Fair at the Senior Center. Line-up at the end of the article. 

 

"Planet Earth deserves more than a day, we are giving it a full week. It's still under what it deserves," said Kathy Perney, the Green Committee's public outreach and education chair. 

 

The collaboration fostered ideas that appeal to all age groups and strengthened students' connections to the community.

 

"It makes me feel like I am a member of Dalton, and like I can make a change, and I'm not just a random high schooler, like, I actually can actively participate, and what I do can matter," Scalise said. 

 

Perney and the green committee bring valuable experience and ideas that appeal to adults, while the students brought ideas that interest the younger generation. 

 

Combining these perspectives created something engaging and inclusive for everyone, Scalise and Chaffee said. 

 

The week leading up to spring break, the Green Committee collaborated with teachers from Craneville Elementary School, Nessacus Regional Middle School, and St. Agnes' Catholic community to incorporate an environmental-themed writing and drawing contest into their curriculum. 

 

The activities throughout town are also considered engaging to younger kids, Chaffee said. 

 

"It's also nice because we're bringing awareness to the high school, but we're also doing it for younger kids who aren't in high school yet to bring it to their attention," she said. 

 

"It's nice to start showing them stuff about the environment while they're younger, so maybe they'll have an interest for it when they're in high school."

 

The green initiatives are not limited to these two weeks for the Green Umbrella Club. The club has over 100 students, with more than 20 active participants each week, though the specific students involved change weekly based on availability.

 

The student-driven organization allows students to undertake initiatives that interest them most and make sustainable change to their school, district, and community. 

 

"It's really what's relevant to the students. I think it's important for them to be able to feel heard and to know what's going on in the community at the time," said April LeSage, science teacher. 

 

"The important part is as we move through each generation or every year, there is something different that could take hold, or a different issue that they're interested in." 

 

Every younger generation has to live with the world that older generations leave them, she said. 

 

"They're getting the raw end of the deal. They are interested in making a better world for themselves. The club is big. It's powerful and very vociferous about what they want," LeSage said. 

 

The club provides a range of opportunities for students to participate in hands-on environmental and service-based learning activities, including trash and river cleanups, invasive species removal, camping, a "Women in Agriculture" trip, and visiting an elementary school to teach about endangered species through books and crafts.

 

This is not the last time the Green Umbrella Club will be collaborating with the green committee with current plans to paint the town's Swap Shop. 

 

The swap shop encourages reuse and helps keep goods out of landfills by allowing people to bring items they no longer need and exchange them or take items for free.

 

"We I haven't figured out what to paint it with, but maybe different seasons, because the Berkshires have all four seasons, so we want to incorporate that somehow," said Isabella Riechers, senior and Green Umbrella Club member.

 

To go along with the re-use theme, the students are asking for previously used outdoor paint donations. To make a donation email the Dalton Green Committee. 

 

Additionally, the club is in the very early stages of bringing back its composting programs and making it district wide. 

 

The old Dalton High School had a composting program but when the new school was built it didn't transfer over. 

 

To do this the district would have to purchase compost bins, which is about $3,000 per school and secure an external hauler contract, estimated to cost about $30 to 60 a week per school depending on volume

 

"I met with the superintendent, and he's on board. We're looking for funding right now through grants, so hopefully we can get some funding," LeSage said. 

 

"If we could get the funding to get that up and running. We were hoping in the fall to start this in the elementary schools and have the high schoolers from Green Umbrella teach the elementary schoolers what can and can't be composted." 

 

Dalton Earth Week Line-Up: 

Email daltonearthweek@gmail.com for more information and to register for events. 

 

Sunday, April 19:

 

Scavenger Hunt

Town-wide from to 3 p.m.

 

Teams of 2 or more will take photos of environmental themed items such as electric vehicle chargers, native plant species, wildlife or water features, and more. 

 

Monday, April 20:

 

Trail Walk of the Pines Trailhead

 

Help the Open Space And Recreation Committee clean up the Pines during this guided tour and clean-up. 

 

Tuesday, April 21:

 

Dalton Clean-Up,

 

During this self-guided initiative, community members are encouraged to take a walk throughout their neighborhood or throughout town to pick up trash. 

 

Earth Day, Wednesday, April 22: 

 

Family Feud

Dalton Senior Center at 1 p.m.,

 

Answer environmental themed questions for a chance to win prizes. 

 

Scavenger Hunt Replay

Dalton Library at at 6 p.m.

 

There will be a screening of videos collected during the scavenger hunt. 

 

Thursday, April 23:

 

Bird Watch Walk

Boulders Preserve Trail from from 7:30 to 8:30 a.m.

 

Pleasant Valley Audubon Society will lead a guided walk of the Boulders Preserve Trail to search for birds. Limited Spots, so reserve a place by emailing the green committee. 

 

Friday, April 24: 

 

Coloring Contest Award Ceremony.

Dalton Library at 10:30 a.m. 

 

The committee will be distributing awards to pre-kindergarten through eighth graders who won the coloring and writing contest. 

 

Environmental Spectacular Fair

Dalton Senior Center, 1 to 3

 

Nearly a dozen environmental organizations and natural resource advocates will have tables providing visitors with resources and information. Vendors include members of the Green Air Coalition, Northern Berkshire Solid Waste Management, Alpine Solar, Dalton Swap Shop, Central Berkshire Habitat for Humanity, Berkshire Environmental Action Team, and more.