On top of having final exams and typical high school pressures to deal with, three Grade 11 students from Mulgrave School also have the earth on their shoulders.
Charlie Hart and MC de Beer, both 16, and Omar Aguilar Medina, 17, are the current leaders of the Green Team, an environmental group that was started by a former student and handed over to the three teens.
"It was more service-based for me last year. It was something to fulfill my commitment of my service hours, but as you join the club it becomes more important," said Hart.
At the beginning of every school year, the team decides what the year's goals are. Last year, they focused on carpooling to the campus to help reduce traffic. They also worked with the provincial Department of Fisheries to try to preserve a species of endangered frogs that live in a stream near Mulgrave.
This year's goals are proving to be more challenging. The students are trying to convince the school cafeteria to stop selling plastic water bottles and to get approval to install more filtered water fountains on campus. As it stands, Mulgrave has two filtered fountains.
The group also recently helped promote Earth Hour, resulting in almost all of the school's lights being turned off for an hour during the day.
"We've been trying to encourage our members that it's beyond a commitment. . . . We aren't that close to the environment because it's not that attractive. But once you get involved with us, you can be surprised at how many people can make a difference," Medina said.
The Green Team currently consists of 10 members and they're in the midst of recruiting new, younger students so that the club won't end once they've graduated.
While none of the boys have figured out their future plans, they all agree that being part of the club has challenged them to think more about their environmental impact.
"It's definitely changed the way I think about everything outside of classes," Hart said.
Stella Ablett, principal of Mulgrave's senior school can vouch for their hard work.
"They are carrying a rigorous academic program as well, because they are all in the International Baccalaureate program. They've really stepped up with their passions in the environment," she said.
For those looking to be a little more eco-conscious, the students offer these three tips: make sure that leaky faucets get fixed to save water; turn off lights when you leave a room; and carpool to and from work or school.
