Students get their hands in the dirt

EcoClub transforms school plot with water in mind

By Pooja Magavi

Intern

The student-run EcoClub at Canyon Crest Academy continues its mission of encouraging eco-friendliness at the high school with Friday’s unveiling of the result of a lot of hard work on what previously was an unattractive plot of land on campus.

The club, which was formed when the school opened in 2004, transformed the plot into what is now a product of “xeriscaping” - a process that entails “designing a space with water conservation in mind,” said club president Judy Li, a junior.

Over the recent fall break, club members planted species native to California, including coastal sunflower, buckwheat and black sage. In addition they laid down river rocks, creating a water-free creek within the plot.

Information will be posted near the plot on Friday, Li said, detailing exactly how the project will save water.

“We (EcoClub) want this to be educational so students know what’s going on,” Li said.

Originally inspired by Wendy Slijk, a biology and environmental science teacher at CCA, EcoClub is now under the leadership of Li and Rosie Jackson, also a junior.

This year the club also successfully implemented a recycling program on campus after many sincere, yet unsuccessful, attempts.

“It (collecting recyclables) was always difficult because collection originally took place after school, which was time-consuming and tough to organize,” Li said. “Now collection happens during school hours - teachers dump recyclables into hallway bins, from which everything is gathered by club representatives.”

Recyclables are ultimately collected once a week by EDCO, the same company that collects CCA’s trash.