The Green Earth Gang is one of the many clubs and organizations at Colgate University dedicated to impacting the environment through student-led action. Unlike other initiatives on campus, Green Earth Gang uses education and outreach to younger generations to make an impact.
Team leader and sophomore Isabella D’Onofrio explained the operations of the club.
“Green Earth Gang is a club which teaches second and third graders about the environment. We want to foster a place of learning where kids will love and respect the natural world around them. We often do a lesson and then a craft,” D’Onofrio said.
The club meets with the elementary students once a week, providing the club with time to cover a range of topics that can correlate with what the students are learning in school, what’s happening outside at the time or holidays and special events. Team leader and sophomore Emma Shinsato spoke about these topics.
“[We cover topics] such as plastic bag usage or deforestation,” Shinsato explained. “Other times, we do general lessons about the Earth, such as bees, pollination, ladybugs — for Valentine’s Day — and moon phases.”
From these lessons, activities are also developed to keep the kids excited and interested in learning about the world around them. Team leader and sophomore Izzie Hahl explained the importance of incorporating fun into their time at the elementary school.
“The whole purpose is to inform the kids and make learning about the environment fun so they can get this love for the environment that they can hopefully take into the future or maybe even their future careers,” Hahl said. “I think it’s really important to learn about the environment and have interactions with it from a young age because you grow up understanding and appreciating the world around you. When you can do that, you develop this love, and when you love something, you want to protect it.”
One example of the types of activities Green Earth Gang uses to foster both education and excitement is their lesson on rainforests.
“We taught the kids about the rainforest and the different adaptations that rainforest animals have. Then we had them create their own rainforest animal with their own adaptations, and we brought in this big poster which was the rainforest and they got to pick where in the rainforest they put their animals,” Hahl said.
D’Onofrio echoed the sentiment of fun being an essential tool to creating love for the environment, and through that love, change.
“I think this club is allowing kids to not only learn about the environment but love it,” D’Onofrio said. “We respect things so much more when we understand them and want to help them. We want to have fun while learning about the environment, to create real change in these kids’ lives!”
Green Earth Gang allows its members to create tangible impacts on the environment through the younger generations, ensuring they begin to understand and care for the earth from a young age.
“This club is so important as our Earth is a valuable resource that many people don’t take care of,” Shinsato said. “We want to express the importance of being aware of your footprint, and starting young will hopefully encourage them to understand the impact they have.”
Green Earth Gang offers a rewarding and worthwhile opportunity for the students who are currently participating or thinking of joining the organization. “The kids are wonderful, and it’s a great way to be a part of the community, not just at Colgate,” D’Onofrio said.
Shinsato voiced, “I would say to anyone interested in working with kids, environmental issues or protecting our Earth and future — join us!”
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