The teenagers with whom we live and work do not need to be convinced of our environmental ethics. From kindergarden on, they have been taught the value of recycling, conservation of resources and clean energy. As they have matured, they increasingly appreciate the complex challenges they are inheriting, such as the tipping points of exponential population growth and the warming of the planet.
So it should come as no surprise that students lead Proctor Environmental Action (with guidance from adults); student volunteers coordinate campus-wide recycling, and students pushed the articulation of an Environmental Mission Statement.
After months of discussion, writing, editing and tweaking, a final draft was unanimously voted into policy on Thursday evening. The Environmental Mission Statement has been studied and approved by mixed constituency groups, the Buildings & Grounds Department, the Food Services and Housekeeping staffs, and--finally--faculty. It boldly challenges the community "...to teach and practice sustainability throughout our school community." When it comes to matters of environmental responsibility, we are not straddling the fence.
"Sustainability is defined as 'meeting the present generation's needs without compromising our ability to meet the needs of the future generations.'" The statement identifies six supporting standards, or challenges to be met. The first of these is a stunner: "We will attain this goal by sustaining a carbon-neutral footprint on campus." This is not a relative goal (such as "to improve...."). It is absolute: we are striving to generate carbon dioxide at levels equal to--or less than--the amount consumed by oxygen-generating flora on school property.
We pledge to provide "systems and services that encourage behavior, innovations and technology that reduce our resource consumption."
These are rock-climbers up at the granite outcrop on Ragged Mountain's east shoulder known as The Bulkhead:
On Saturday morning, we hosted a few dozen prospective applicants and their families for an Open House at which a student panel answered questions and shared insights on the school. The Environmental Mission Statement was discussed.
Meanwhile, just outside of the Meeting House, students were gathering and sorting recyclables from nineteen dormitories and four general facilities. They bagged aluminum cans, glass and plastics and brought them to the dumpster area outside the rink, where student volunteers coordinated final sorting and collection.
The leaders of this process volunteer this time every Saturday morning, rain or shine. Why? "Because it's the right thing to do."
Every item is carefully separated. Louis and Scott sort plastics.
The Environmental Mission Statement calls for "Purchasing goods and services that are ecologically responsible" and "Empowering current members of the community to be active stewards for an equitable and ecologically healthy Earth." Below, Director of Housekeeping Lynda Underhill peruses the set of non-caustic, environmentally friendly cleaners used by her staff across campus.
Articulating a Mission Statement of this lofty nature is the easy part. We have work to do. We are on our way!
