Earth Day may have occurred during Spring Break this year, but that didn’t stop Manhasset students from learning how to “Protect our Species,” earthday.org‘s 2019 global theme. Elementary schools had a packed week of activities, from learning ways to conserve energy to reusing materials.
Shelter Rock student Green Team Leaders held a blue jean donation drive as well as a bottle cap collection. They collected 221 pairs of jeans by week’s end. Over at Munsey Park, 65 pairs of jeans were donated to the cause and many took part in a recycled art contest, using their creativity and artistic talent to craft pieces made from recycled household items. Blue jean donations were dropped to Madewell and J. Crew. The stores participate in the Blue Jeans Go Green initiative (bluejeansgogreen.org), a program that collects denim from all over the country and upcycles it into UltraTouch denim home insulation, of which a portion is provided to communities in need every year.
Go Green Week culminated with the lively Nature Nick visiting both elementary schools with his gang of animals, entertaining all the students while helping them to understand the importance of protecting all species. Over at Manhasset Secondary School, students were busy during their lunch period testing their knowledge on topics such as climate change as well as endangered species. Some were shocked by how much they knew, others surprised by what facts they learned. Some worked together, others alone, but all were rewarded with pens made from recycled bottles once they completed the quiz.
Go Green week reached into the community as well, with a luncheon held to learn about Eco-Safe products for home and family. Local attorney Jane Cava Viola hosted the luncheon and also shared a legislative update on environmental issues affecting Long Island and New York. Lori Cohen, a wellness advocate, shared her knowledge of the role essential oils can play in keeping our homes clean without toxins, protecting our families as well as our properties. Those attending enjoyed a delicious organic lunch from Organic Krush, a Long Island-based eatery with a soon to be Roslyn location. Manhasset’s own Nancy Ferraris, Natural Foods Chef from Nancy’s Nourishing Kitchen sampled some of her date nut bites and Jeanine Toes from Emma’s Elixirs, showcased her line of chemical and toxin-free body and skin care products.
Proceeds from the luncheon will be used to continue the Summer Sustainability program at the Manhasset school gardens. The gardens have been in existence since 2013 and are used by students, parents, teachers, and community members. Used as a tool to help students learn about the plant lifecycle, the gardens help those to understand the importance of sourcing food locally, and to empower the students to make better choices about the food they eat. In addition, the gardens include monarch butterfly way stations, to aid in attracting and feeding the decreasing population of monarch butterflies.
The Summer Sustainability Program offers students the opportunity to understand the lifecycle of what we eat by planting, tending and harvesting their own food. In addition, the students will enjoy field trips to environmentally responsible businesses. These students will receive community service hours for time spent in the program.
For more information about Planet Manhasset and the programs it offers, please contact Zari Ginsburg, zaribg@hotmail.com, SCA Planet Manhasset President, or Jane Viola, janecviola@gmail.com, SCA Planet Manhasset Director of Sustainability.
Submitted by SCA Planet Manhasset
