Castle View students join forces to save the earth

Castle View students join forces to save the earth
Contributed by: Erin Feese/YourHub.com on 10/12/2008

A group of students at Castle View High School are passionate about protecting the Earth, and they have teamed up with a local nonprofit to get their message out all over the world.

yourhub_story1 The high school's environmental club, Castle View Goes Green, or CVG2, is participating in the month long youth launch of the social networking site www.earthprotect.com.

Earth Protect is a Castle Pines North-based nonprofit whose mission increase awareness about environmental issues and connect people to effective action leading to a sustainable, healthy future for the earth, said Carol Barbeito, president of Earth Protect and Castle Pines North resident.

"We want to raise awareness among a large number of people, and youth is our hope," Barbeito said. "Youth is a huge user of social networking."

The high school's environmental club, Castle View Goes Green, or CVG2, is participating in the month long youth launch of the social networking site www.earthprotect.com.

yourhub_story2 "We want to raise awareness among a large number of people, and youth is our hope," Barbeito said. "Youth is a huge user of social networking."

"We have people all around the world talking and starting this conversation, which is awesome," said Castle View junior Amanda MacTaggert.

Youth organizations around the world, including Earth Charter youth groups from Costa Rica, Ghana and Liberia, have been invited to participate in the youth launch by leading forum discussions, posting comments and asking questions of featured blogger Jonathan Harrington, author of The Climate Diet.

CVG2 students are working to get their friends and family involved and spread the word about the site.

Earth Protect is a good way to get information on environmental issues out to young people because "high schoolers are always on the computer," MacTaggert said.

yourhub_story3 "Earth Protect is an awesome site that can get people inspired. I really like the videos," she said.

MacTaggert said the idea for CVG2 started with her and some friends who are interested in the environment and science. Jenny Dallman, Castle View biology teacher, readily agreed to be the club sponsor.

"The biggest thing for me is sharing my knowledge and passion with the kids," said Dallman, who has been leading students on environmental trips for 10 years. She took a group Ecuador and the Galapagoes Islands over the summer and plans to lead a trip to Costa Rica in summer 2009.

Since CVG2 started up in fall 2007, the group has implemented a number of green measures throughout the school, including classroom recycling and energy saving, such as encouraging teacher to turn off classroom lights when the leave the room and hibernate their computers.

yourhub_story4 The group also has "de-lamped" all the classrooms in the school, which entails turning off one light bulb out of the three in the fluorescent light fixtures. The procedure leaves plenty of light for an optimal light for a learning environment and saves energy, club member Jake Powell explained.

The club has started a pilot program for recycling batteries and anyone in Douglas County is welcome to drop off their used batteries, which can be harmful if they end up in landfills.

The club's future goals include outreach to elementary schools and networking with Castle View feeder schools, educate the community about carbon footprint reduction and hold a Crocs recycling drive, Dallman said.

For more information about Earth Protect and to join in the discussion, visit www.earthprotect.com.