The story of a club created by two juniors to help the environment and raise awareness for the planet and its safety here at Toll Gate.
High school is all about leaving your mark, making an impact. Rain Mello and Katelyn Watson decided to do just that. Combining your goals with your passions and harnessing that power for the good of the environment is a permanent mark left behind. Rain Mello and Katelyn Watson came together this quarter and decided to start a club promoting environmental awareness and a safe comfort place where all students are included.
“We love the environment and we want to promote environmental awareness here at Toll Gate. We wanted to find a group of like minded people and make a community at Toll Gate where we could do our best to better our community.”
These two expect to open up doors for community service and overall support for the environment. “We really want to do community service outside of TG and into the community. We would like to find ways to improve our community at TG to be more environmentally friendly. Our goal is to not only help the environment but to have a safe space for people who also care about the environment.”
The girls started the club together and by their own initiative. However, they did need help from one specific science teacher. Rain told me, “I went to Katelyn with the idea and we loved it, so did our friends. So we went to our APES teacher, [Ms. Washington], and proposed the idea and she loved it.” “We had to get an advisor first and then we had to create an Instagram. We put up some posters just to spread the word. This was me and Rain” Katelyn explains.
The process the two had to go through to start the Environmental Club was made easier by their AP Environmental Science teacher, Ms. Washington. Through the AP class she teaches, the girls found their love for the environment and all things science. “Mrs. Washington is our mentor/advisor. She’s helped us with ideas for other activities we can do. She’s been very helpful and supportive and patient with everything. I’m very appreciative of that.”
The journey to creating the Environmental Club wasn’t always easy or fun. There were many challenges for these students. “I’d say the biggest [challenge] is limited resources. Everything we use or do is either donated or we have to fund it ourselves. Promoting it and getting it up and running and figuring out what we were going to do and the days that it was going to work was a challenge.”
With some help from Mrs. Washington, their friends/supporters and each other, the Environmental club has already made its start. “The environmental club is open to anyone! We want to dedicate our time to improving the environment and community service. We also want to educate ourselves on today’s current environmental issues and what we can do individually to help. We love to see new faces. Everyone is welcome to join and I hope people who love science or the environment find community here and a place to be with similar people.”
The Enviro club is dedicated to an amazing cause and was started because of passion, knowledge and awareness. It was created with the purpose of saving/maintaining the environment and being a safe place for students of different backgrounds and interests. There is one common trait between all of these individuals, deep love and care for the environment. Rain Mello and Katelyn Watson are always listening to the concerns and suggestions made by the members of the Enviro club and have deep consideration for all of its members. This club is all about mixing an important cause with fun, passion and unity. It represents an opportunity to protect and advocate for your environment. Joining this club would mean more than just joining a club, it would mean joining an important and worldwide cause. The Environmental Club helps many find their voice and be a part of something greater than themselves.
I believe I speak on behalf of Rain and Katelyn when I suggest you take Katelyn Watson’s advice: “You should join.”
