were fun, they did not really push us closer to our objectives. In Pennsylvania, particularly the northern part, the weather during much of the school year excludes many outdoor activ- ities. I want an environmental club to help students mean- ingfully connect to nature, but this is challenging when you are restricted to spending most time indoors. I have found that I need to offer some direction to students to ensure that club time has purpose, and one of the best ways to do this is through a project. After some research, brainstorming, and networking, the project that emerged as the best fit for our club was a pollinator garden, but other projects could certainly bring similar benefits. While a garden itself is, of course, outside, the research, planning, and preparation for it can all be done indoors, providing enough activities to last until the weather is warm enough for planting. A pollinator garden works
well because it has an important local environmental benefit that mirrors larger environmental issues. That is, it serves as a tan- gible representation of numerous global-scale environmental processes (e.g., carbon cycling, water cycling, pol- lination, etc.) on a small scale. Passively learning about the role of pollinators is import- ant, but actually planting a garden and seeing pollina- tors active in nature makes the learning much more relevant. Students can be proud of their work and feel and see their connection to the natural world. They are doing more than learning about environmental problems; they are actually having a positive effect on the environment. However, devel- oping and implementing a project that encompasses these dimensions may be daunting for students, even teenagers, who have little experience with organization and leadership. I have found that my role as a teacher and club mentor has required striking a careful balance between offering inspi-
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ration and direction and knowing when to step back and let students take the lead. Furthermore, this balance is different for each student. Some students, especially the younger ones, need more structure and direction, but others flourish when given the opportunity to embrace leadership and creativity.
Walmart community grant
The application gets sent to the local commu- nity store (a local division of a larger organiza-
tion), where the management makes the decision. Walmart grants are non-specific and can be used towards a variety of projects by US-tax-exempt and government organizations. Schools and grants are awarded in amounts of $250–5000.00. I have found the application to be rela- tively simple and the entire process easily-manageable.
Make it social In my early attempts at recruiting environmental club mem- bers, I was most frequently asked “Who’s in it?” At first, I tried to emphasize the reason for the club and deemphasize any social component, but I realized that this was putting the wrong spin on the club. Now, while I never forget that the overall purpose of an envi- ronmental club is to provide service to nature while enriching students’ connection to it, I think it’s also important to keep it lighthearted and social. After all, I am asking adolescents to give up their free time, so club activities should not feel like work or school. I encourage club members to invite their friends, listen to music, and have fun while working on environ- mental club projects. Environmental education by its very nature can be a dis- couraging field, so keeping the club positive
and uplifting is very important. The students should
feel rewarded by their participation in it, both through the work that they do and by the overall experience.
Find your network The idea of a pollinator garden came to me one fall after- noon while browsing the internet. I was excited by the idea. The club was just beginning to take root, and I ran it by the members, who were excited and enthusiastic to take on the responsibility of researching, planning, and planting the gar- den. But then what? I needed to provide support by finding funding and a suitable location. Disappointing the students
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