Bryant Ranch School’s Green Team sponsors Earth Week campaign to promote environmental awareness

From April 22-26, students at Bryant Ranch School in Yorba Linda participated in a school-wide Earth Week campaign which was proudly sponsored by the school’s Green Team. Activities included a week-long trash-free lunch program, a free student-led eco-craft focusing on paper waste reduction, and environmentally friendly participation prizes.

During the week, students were encouraged to bring in reusable water bottles, reusable lunch containers, reusable napkins, reusable forks/spoons, reusable lunch bags, and other earth-friendly contributions. Supervisors were on hand to reward students who participated with special Earth Week “brag cards.” Over 300 students participated each day!

On Thursday, April 25, the Green Team explained how to repurpose gently used paper into beautiful origami shapes. This eco-craft was held during both lunches, so all students first through fifth grade had the opportunity to participate. Students learned that repurposing or “upcycling” paper is a less expensive option to recycling paper. Participants created repurposed paper into beautiful origami hearts.

At the end of the week, those students who earned “brag cards” for performing environmentally friendly actions were able to redeem prizes. Prizes for Earth Week participation were donated from several local agencies including the City of Irvine, Orange County Fire Authority, Orange County Water District, and Southern California Edison.

Students at Bryant Ranch Elementary actively participated in the Earth Week activities, and enjoyed learning how to help save our planet.

Outside of Earth Week, Bryant Ranch School’s Green Team operates a daily waste awareness program. Green Team members assist other students sorting food waste for compost, recycling plastic and aluminum waste, and re-using unopened items for the Second Harvest Food bank. To date, they have sorted waste from over 50,000 lunches! Way to go, Explorers!