Oak Meadow middle school students were challenged to examine the communities they are a part of and identify ways in which those communities contribute to climate change. Students then developed individual Climate Action Plans to reduce their community’s carbon emissions.
The plans were as unique as the students, and included
- A schoolwide clothing swap to encourage parents to reduce the amount of old clothing discarded and new clothing purchased
- A proposal to eliminate single-use water bottles at a local climbing gym
- A plan to help minimize food waste in grocery stores
- Guidelines for recycling old technology, as well as delaying technology replacement
- A community compost site at a local landfill to encourage people to compost even if they don’t want to do it at home
7th grader Shm chose his hometown of Littleton, and focused on the environmental impact of lawn maintenance. As he put it, “Most people try to have green lawns, but they don’t have ‘green’ lawns.” Shm’s plan encourages homeowners to consider changing to an electric or manual mower, increase the time between mowing, plant alternative grasses and use organic fertilizers. He created a poster that he proposed to hang in prominent locations around the town.
At the culmination of the project, students presented to an audience that included members of the Littleton Sustainability Committee and the Conservation Commission. These Community Partners provided thoughtful feedback and encouraged students to take the next step and work to make their plans a reality.
Taking this advice, Shm presented his project and his poster at a full meeting of the Sustainability Committee, asking for their endorsement. The Committee voted unanimously to endorse the recommendations and allow Shm to hang his posters–with their logo on it–around town. The poster, which links to Shm’s paper that analyzes the impact of his proposed solutions, will also be featured on Energize Littleton, the Sustainability Committee’s website that encourages Littleton households to take action to improve sustainability.
This project exemplifies how young people can drive meaningful change in their communities. By identifying real environmental challenges and proposing actionable solutions, Oak Meadow students are not only learning about sustainability—they’re actively shaping a greener future. Shm’s success highlights the power of student initiative, and his work serves as an inspiration for others to take bold steps toward climate action.
