Earth is our home, and there’s no denying humans have been contributing to some of its environmental issues. This growing problem of the environment moved junior Quinn Sayers to find a way to bring more awareness to Blue Valley, thus birthing the BV Environmental Awareness Club. 

“What inspired me to create the club was the realization of how human habits in current society are harming the Earth with ways of life we live right now,” Sayers said. “We emit a lot of carbon, and it’s destroying ecosystems and destroying animal habitats. It’s extremely unsustainable.” 

Sayers’s intention with the club was to create a community for those who are passionate about the environment and want to pursue it as an extracurricular. He collaborated with science teacher Ryan Bird to sponsor the club as well as juniors Ava Viseck and Matthew Rodriguez. 

“We first started off as just a group of my two friends,” Sayers said. “We started meeting up in Mr. Bird’s room, and we were brainstorming ideas of how to promote the club. AP Environmental Science [students] had already made posters, so we started to put those up around the school.” 

The posters successfully drew in students and, soon enough, a sizable group of passionate environmentalists was established. Members regularly go to club meetings before school on Wednesdays in Bird’s room to discuss both local and global environmental issues.

With a steady group in place, the club is ready to put plans into action to improve local ecosystems. 

“What we’re currently working on right now is a bunch of cleanups,” Sayers said. “We’re cleaning up ponds in different ecosystems nearby like the pond across the street from Blue Valley High and then three or four more in the areas by Blue River.”

The group meets up after school on Mondays to pull debris and other litter out of the ponds.

“We just try to get out as much trash as possible, ” Rodriguez said. “It’s really fun and honestly crazy what stuff we find in there.”

The clubs plans to advance their environmental philanthropy by uniting with other organizations. 

“[The Prairie Restoration Club] was already doing some of the plans we’ve been discussing like brining back native plants and composting,” Rodriguez said. 

Another primary goal for the club is to encourage students to make conscious decisions about the environment and even take action themselves.

“Our future plans include informing and having discussions with students in Blue Valley,” Sayers said. “It’s important that everyone is aware and contributing on how their habits can affect the world and the environment and how you should change your habits in order to benefit the environment.”

Sayers encourages all students who are interested in helping the cause to reach out to him or to visit Bird and ask about joining. 

“The club is for everyone,” Sayers said. “The only requirement is that you care about helping out the Earth.”