The Environmental Science Club goes on many different things from events to fundraisers. Graphic by Isabelle Ludemann.

The Career and Technical Education (CTE) Environmental Science Club (Envi Sci) uses field trips, birding days, day camps, and other community events to get people interested in the environment. This year, new club leaders Anna Horn and Corbin Atchley, both seniors, get to share their love of the environment within the club. 

Horn’s interest in Envi Sci began when she was in eighth grade, looking up to her older sister, who was already in the club. Horn joined the club her freshman year due to her sister’s encouragement, and has been involved since.

“My sister was a senior when I was a freshman, and so I’d come to the volunteer stuff when I was in eighth grade,” Horn said. “[Freshman year] I was like, ‘Okay, I’ll go to the environmental club. We went outside and we went on field trips, it was actually cool. A bunch of other clubs are [structured where] you go to the club, they do a slideshow, and then you leave, but Envi Sci feels much bigger than that.”

For Atchley, his interest in Envi Sci was sparked by his love of the outdoors, through hiking and other activities, as well as teaching others about environmental science.

“The more I did it, the more I realized it was something that I really found interesting,” Atchley said. “After I joined the leadership and got more involved with the club, I helped lead our Green Horizons program, the science camp that we do with kids. I think it’s wonderful to be able to introduce the younger generation to science and the environment.”

Envi Sci takes a primarily student-led approach to organizing fundraisers, meetings, and other events, and gives the club members and leaders a place to find their positions.

“We do different types of fundraisers than other clubs,” Horn said. “I see a lot of people doing the student street fundraisers, which are so cool. But we do the kids’ camp. We grossed about 11k and profited about 7k. It funds our field trips down to the Redwoods, to Malheur, and to Leavenworth, and we use the money because we make it.”

Envi Sci emphasises the importance of the Green Horizon camps and the positive effects that they can have on the younger generations.

“It’s so wonderful to be able to help kids learn about the environment,” Atchley said. “Especially in a day where it’s so easy to be pessimistic about our environment, [we get] to look at this generation [and realize] the power is in their hands, and make sure that they have something to do with that power. I think that’s really powerful.”

The mission of Envi Sci’s student-led, day-long, outdoor camp is to get young kids interested in the environment through nature exploration and stations. The name ‘Green Horizons’ emphasises the hope that the younger generation can be the change for the environment.

“I think the club is probably one of the most important things I’ve done in my life, other than my search and rescue stuff in outdoor school. It’s one of the things I’ve committed to the most, and it’s very close to my heart. I really care a lot about the people in the club and the club itself and what it stands for,” Horn said.

Other than hiking, being outdoors, and teaching kids at the Green Horizons nature camp, Atchley helps plan events, such as club movie nights and senior night.

“It’s so cool to be able to have these opportunities to do something bigger. I was really interested in planning events and other things like that, because it makes you feel like you have power, which is a rare feeling in this world. And so it was nice to be able to feel powerful and like I was worth something,” Atchley said.

Envi Sci meets every Tuesday in Room 706, Mr. Bingham’s classroom, during lunch. Envi Sci is going to be hosting an Intro to Birding event at Mary S. Young Park on Sept. 27 for all community members who are interested. For more information, contact club advisor Mr. Bingham ([email protected]), club leader Anna Horn ([email protected]), or Corbin Atchley ([email protected]).