For the second year in a row, over 300 students at George Elliot Senior Secondary School in Lake Country plan to take on Community Cleanup Month with a vengeance as they head out of the classroom to clean up around their school and neighborhood this Thursday (April 25th). And this year, they’re issuing a challenge to all students in School District 23 to do the same.

Rae Stewart with the Regional Waste Reduction Office says with about 16 classes, 320 students, and 12 teachers involved, it’s one of the largest youth mobilization efforts for Community Cleanup Month. “These kids are inspiring! A big hats off to all of them, and their teachers, for their spirit and dedication to our environment!”

Rob Geier, teacher at George Elliot Secondary says students are more than willing to roll up their sleeves for a good cause. “The students took on this project last year and were amazed at how much they could accomplish in a short period of time, collecting over 260 kg of garbage in a few hours. Students recognize they can make a difference and their efforts do have an impact. Our student body wishes to challenge all other schools in the community to get out there too, if we all band together, imagine the difference!”

Since the District of Lake Country recently kicked off their “Imagine…Our Sustainable Lake Country” initiative, members of Municipal Council, including Councillor Rob Geier, made Earth Hour style (I Will If You Will) challenges to inspire the local community to take action.  To make things a little more fun for the students at GESS, Rob Geier challenged IF 50% of George Elliot Secondary School students and staff take part in the Lake Country Community Cleanup the week of April 21-27, THEN he would dye his hair green for the remainder of April.  The school principal joined in the challenge as well indicating that he was willing to have students color the earth onto his bald head.

Additionally, inspired by a Sustainability challenge made by Councillor Jamie McEwan, Rob Geier and the Conservation Coyotes from GESS have registered a 9 km section of the beach along Okanagan Lake in Lake Country for a May 4th clean up initiative as part of the Great Canadian Shoreline Clean Up.

As part of Community Cleanup Month which traditionally runs the whole month of April, the Regional Waste Reduction Office provides gear and supplies to any group interested in tackling a cleanup project.  It will even arrange to pick up your litter filled bags when you’re done.

If you’d like to do a Cleanup in April, or any other time of year, please visit regionaldistrict.com/recycle for more info, or call the Regional Waste Reduction Office at 250.469.6250.

News from © iNFOnews, 2013