Adams Elementary School Hosts Coin Drive to support CEC’s critical work
Children today will likely face three times as many extreme weather events in their lifetimes as their grandparents did. But young people are also highly aware of the importance of caring for our planet, and many have strong moral clarity around addressing issues like climate change and pollution.
Rising fifth grader Emma Sizer, the Community Service Representative for Adams Elementary School's student council last year, led the student body in a coin drive benefitting CEC's environmental work. Emma is also a participant in Adams' Ocean Guardians Program.
This spring, students from Santa Barbara’s Adams Elementary School raised over $100 for the Community Environmental Council (CEC) through their spring coin drive, using the opportunity to raise awareness about environmental issues like single use plastics and renewable energy.
Each year, the Student Council at Adams Elementary leads the school in community service projects, giving students opportunities to volunteer with or raise money for local organizations. Rising 5th grader Emma Sizer, the Community Service Representative for the Student Council, helped choose CEC as the coin drive recipient. Emma says that she considered several environmental organizations, but ultimately decided on CEC because of how the organization works on so many important issues.
To kick off the coin drive, Emma gave a speech at her school’s weekly assembly about the importance of respecting and taking care of the environment. During the speech, some of her fellow council members displayed objects—including reusable bags, fresh fruit and vegetables, and a recycling bin—to help illustrate six areas of focus for CEC: energy, equity, transportation, food, waste, and community.
The wishing well on campus where students donated coins to give to CEC.
Emma also participates in the Ocean Guardian School program at Adams Elementary, which provides students opportunities to learn about ocean and watershed conservation and participate in hands-on projects and field trips. The program is managed by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) Office of National Marine Sanctuaries. NOAA staff member Claire Fackler has been leading the Ocean Guardians program at Adams Elementary for several years, and has acted as a liaison between the program and CEC (Fackler is also co-chair of CEC’s Partnership Council).
CEC has teamed up with Ocean Guardian participants on several projects, including creating a music video about ocean plastics, adding a bioswale to the Adams school grounds, and reaching out to local businesses about reducing single use plastics. Adams Ocean Guardians also accompanied CEC and Santa Barbara Channelkeeper staff to a City Council hearing about the straw reduction law, provided public comments, and helped get the law passed.
“I went to the Channel Islands a month ago with the Ocean Guardian group and we removed one of the invasive species,” says Emma, who has a special interest in native vegetation. “I like planting native plants. I sometimes help with gardening at my house.” She described some of the other great experiences she’s had so far through the Ocean Guardian program, including a hike to Inspiration Point (a local Santa Barbara favorite), a kayak trip, and a beach cleanup. They also help raise awareness about the environment on campus.
This year's Ocean Guardians Program participants from Adams Elementary participated in a trip to the Channel Islands to help remove invasive plant species.
Adams Elementary has been a community leader in environmental awareness and conservation. “We gave out reusable water bottles to all the students and set up water filling stations so that if people brought their reusable water bottle, they could fill it up there,” Emma explained. The initial bottle filling stations were provided by CEC’s Rethink the Drink project.
“CEC is proud to partner with the Adams Ocean Guardians,” says Kathi King, CEC’s Director of Outreach and Education. “We are impressed by the students' passion for the environment and willingness to advocate and engage in meaningful, local solutions.”
CEC would like to thank all of the students at Adams Elementary for their donations, and for the inspiring efforts of Emma and her classmates to help protect our environment and give back to the community.
