Earth Day Inspires School Community

5/1/2024

On Earth Day this year, the Masters community promoted climate issues big and small.

The Middle School Environmental Sustainability Group (ESG) raised funds for The Ocean Cleanup, an organization that helps to remediate The Great Pacific Garbage Patch, the largest accumulation of ocean plastic in the world located between California and Hawaii.

“I feel it is important to honor Earth Day every year to raise awareness for the environment, and to not only raise money, but to have an effect on climate change,” said Rex Wallach ’28, co-chair of ESG.

His ESG co-chair Knox Gary ’28 thinks the message about the climate crisis needs to be ongoing. “Not enough attention is brought to global warming because it's not seen as immediate,” Gary explained. “So I think it's important that we recognize that not just one day a year, because we live on this Earth every day of the year.”

ESG member Jack Barek ’29 agrees. “I think climate change is such a pressing issue,” he said. “I want to be a senator and fight against all the people who aren't supporting it, and I think even though I'm young, being part of ESG is the first step of getting into that mindset and bringing other people into that as well.”

The group’s Earth Day slideshow presentation was well received. “They educated the students about innovations being used around the world to improve and clean up the environment,” said Mary Chapell, ESG advisor. “Students and faculty were very receptive to being given some hope for the future.”

Meanwhile, upper school EFFECT club Co-Chairs Clara Nalle ’24 and Bobby Callagy ’24 chose to honor Earth Day with a community flower planting activity to take advantage of the spring weather on campus.

“I’d say it was a huge success,” Nalle said. “We potted, planted and parted ways with close to 150 pansy plants in compostable pots that will beautify students’ dorm rooms and homes.”

EFFECT members are gearing up for Green Week from May 6-10, which will include events aimed at educating the school community, such as decorating flower pots, a visit from local farm animals, and a meatless lunch in the Dining Hall.

“I think the students are inspirational in their motivation and desire to be a power for good and reduce their individual impact on the environment as well as that of the Masters community,” said Lucas Mount-Finette, EFFECT advisor. “This motivation comes from within and along with their love for the natural world. It is infectious.”