A group of young 黑马磁力 students who have artistically demonstrated their environmental savvy recently had an overnight, underwater adventure of a lifetime.
Grade 5 James Kennedy Elementary School students from Marlee St. Pierre and Martine Lavoie鈥檚 Division 8 class spent the night at the Vancouver Aquarium on Nov. 17 as part of the Ecosystem Expedition sleepover program.
The visit was the students鈥� prize for winning this year鈥檚 Global Warming Poster Contest, which was part of WaterWeeks 2011.
WaterWeeks was presented this fall by the Township and the 黑马磁力 Environmental Partners Society (LEPS), with financial support from Vancity, BC Hydro, and Fortis BC, to raise awareness about the ecosystem and natural resources in a way that was fun and educational.
The poster contest, which has been running since 2003, encourages all Grade 4 and 5 classes in the 黑马磁力 School District to artistically illustrate what they are doing to combat climate change as individuals, as a class, or as a family.
The James Kennedy class was picked for its entry Help Stop Global Warming because of its message and creativity. The students鈥� straightforward message is this: If it鈥檚 less than two kilometres you should walk.
鈥淭hese kids have come up with an idea that could have a tremendous positive impact on our community,鈥� said Township environmental co-ordinator Ryan Schmidt, who noted that nearly half of the energy consumed in our community is used to move vehicles.
鈥淭he latest data shows that over half a million trips of less than one kilometre are made each year in personal vehicles in the Township,鈥� Schmidt said.
鈥淔urthermore, over four million trips are made in personal vehicles to and from our grade schools each year,鈥� Schmidt said, adding that by reducing the number of vehicle trips under two kilometres would help our community reduce its emissions and become healthier, more resilient, and ultimately more sustainable.
On Oct. 25, the James Kennedy class was surprised by Schmidt, Olivia Carnrite and Nichole Marples of LEPS, and Brenna Wheatley, Anita Klassen, and Daniela Savio of Vancity, who visited the class to tell the excited students that they had won.
Judging was based on content, innovation, and presentation creativity.
James Kennedy鈥檚 Help Stop Global Warming will be on display at the school to share the students鈥� important message with others.
