by Kayla Hammer |

Big environmental organizations are known far and wide and make a big impact on our society. Meanwhile a small group of students in a classroom make plans for the community that make a huge difference,  too.
Environmental Club, run by science teacher Rick Knowles, is an club open to anyone. Their mission is not to necessarily save the world, but instead to bring ecological awareness to the student body. In doing so, this club goes beyond recycling.
“We do a stream clean, where the kids do a water test and test the chemistry of the water. We do a cook out, and go to the Omaha Zoo,” said Knowles.
Going to the Omaha Zoo tends to be the event the members enjoy the most.
“I have some friends that work up there and we typically get a tour and see the endangered animals at a closer look,” said Knowles.
The flexibility of the club is another reason why members join.
“I plan on going to the winter sessions,” junior Alix Messer said.
In other cases, sometimes having other obligations just get in the way.
“I’ve only been to two sessions because I’m involved with the play,” junior Abbi Minney said.
However, it is through these sessions every Wednesday after school, that the club decides what events and activities they should do next.
“We did a stream clean up at Shoal Creek, I think two weeks ago,” said Minney
The stream clean up is a very fun project in which the members clean up the stream and do what is called a water test.

Though the work sounds tedious and hard, members seem to enjoy themselves.
“We kind of bond when we do the clean ups and all that stuff, it’s doing good for the environment. I know that may sound eco nerdy, but it’s true,” said Minney.