[ Originally published on: Monday, January 28, 2008 ]
DEERFIELD -- Fifth- and sixth-grade kids at Deerfield Elementary School aren't getting together to talk about skateboarding or video games. Instead, they're talking about energy-efficient light bulbs and global warming.
''It's just amazing what these kids are interested in, and I mean really interested in. It's not just a club to spend time at,'' parent volunteer Kathy Melnik said of the students of the Environmental Action Club.
With the help of two parent volunteers and a teacher, about a dozen boys and girls have been meeting after school for about an hour each Tuesday for the past three weeks.
Last week, Riverland Farm in Sunderland brought in a large container with about 10 pounds of kernels for students to snack on as popcorn.
Farmers from Riverland talked about how corn is grown, how crops are rotated, ways of preserving food to last over the winter and the benefits of buying food locally. Buying locally means that less energy is used to ship food, and is consequently a smaller carbon footprint.
Students got to peel corn kernels off their cobs and then placed the kernels in front of fans to clean them of chaff and silk. They also learned that you need to make sure that corn kernels are dry inside, because otherwise they don't microwave and become popcorn.
Other farms have also been providing the students with snacks, like apples, pears and cider, donated by Clarkdale Fruit Farm.
The group got started when Nathan Lane, a student in Megan Shulda's fifth-grade class, decided to do a presentation about the environment. Shulda, who has a compost bin and a recyclable bin in her classroom, was very encouraging. Lane was so enthusiastic about it, that he suggested there be an after-school club, Melnik said.
This year, Lane made a presentation to students from fourth, fifth and sixth grades about the environment.
At the first meeting of the Environmental Action Group, he handed out a survey for his fellow students, asking questions like, ''Do you bike to school or walk?'' Melnik said.
Students have been trying to find something to do at their level to fight global warming and to help the environment, Melnik said.
They've been brainstorming ideas and asking what they can do at their level.
Principal Kevin Kelly came to see the group in action a couple of times. Students asked him whether a solar panel could be bought to help bring in electricity and whether the school could change its light bulbs to more energy-efficient ones, and whether it could start purchasing recycled paper and pencils, Melnik said.
''They amaze you. They know so much,'' Melnik said.
The students are to finish watching Al Gore's documentary about global warming, ''An Inconvenient Truth,'' this week, Melnik said.
Students are interested in everything from what global warming is doing to animals to alternative fuels for cars, Melnik said.
The group is planning on giving a presentation on April 22, Earth Day.
The kids are hoping to measure the electricity in classrooms using meters.
Folks are coming in to speak to the students about solid waste soon, Melnik said.
''It's just a delight to see them be really interested and really want to make a difference,'' Melnik said of the new generation.
''Maybe they'll be able to make a bigger impact,'' she said.