Every act has an impact, so let’s make every act one that keeps the environment at the forefront and models for our children good ecological stewardship.I firmly believe that creating a sustainable future is a necessity we must address immediately. And what better place to focus our efforts than a school that embraces forward-thinking initiatives? In fact, Campbell Hall has implemented a number of earth-saving measures over many years, from “Reduced Waste Wednesdays” in the elementary school to the construction of The Spielberg Family Arts & Education Center, which is a LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Gold-certified building.
Many of the important sustainability changes on campus have been spurred by students, employees, and parents. Campbell Hall has always encouraged students to advocate for what they believe in and we, as parents, are all raising children who care deeply about the environment. That is why, following an inspirational presentation by four CH seniors in 2015, the Board adopted a new Environmental Policy Statement that laid out directives to create a campus-wide movement to further reduce our carbon footprint and our depletion of natural resources. This, in turn, led to the Board establishing the Sustainability Committee, further deepening the school’s commitment to a greener campus.
Campbell Hall is spearheading a number of sustainable measures. The elementary school garden helps our youngest learners connect with and foster a love of the earth. Led by Jonny Rodgers, who serves as the Bishop’s Chair for Spiritual Ecology, high school students who are passionate about the environment embark on a yearly trip to Catalina Island with a focus on learning about and helping the delicate balance of the island ecosystem through service. In addition, through student-led fundraising, two water filtration systems were constructed in Port-de-Paix, Haiti, that provide clean and accessible water to hundreds of men, women, and children every day. This reduces the need for plastic bottles of water and the waste they produce, contributing to the sustainability efforts and education in this area.
High school students formed and now lead two clubs to address environmental concerns. Evergreens works to increase engagement with the outlying community in promoting environmental interests. The Green Club focuses on ensuring that our campus is green. This group of students led a successful campaign to stop engine idling on campus and continues to focus on eliminating trash and promoting recycling. Faculty have also joined with a group of parents to form their own Green Team to support sustainability.
Every facet of our daily life is being explored to make sure we are doing our absolute best to ensure a vibrant and lasting environment. While on campus the other day, I noticed stickers that the Green Club students put on paper towel dispensers to remind users that, “These come from trees.” This one simple sticker helps promote mindful consumption of natural resources and can potentially save up to 100 lbs. of paper every year at each dispenser.
It is these small changes that, when coupled with big ones, make the greatest difference. Some other initiatives include:
- Campus-wide change to LED lighting
- Abundance of drought-resistant landscaping throughout campus, including a sustainable garden in the elementary
- Charging outlets for electric vehicles in the AEC parking structure
- E-cycling event at Big Sunday
- Battery collection and recycling
- Receptacles labeled to indicate clearly trash that is headed for the landfill
- Reusable mugs, dishes, and silverware in faculty kitchens to reduce paper waste
- Irrigation systems changed to drip systems in many parts of campus
- Encouragement of bus and carpool options
- Ongoing thermostat upgrades to digital, programmable systems using energy efficiency software
BY ROY P. DISNEY BOARD
MEMBER + SUSTAINABILITY CHAIR + CURRENT PARENT + PARENT OF ALUMNA
FROM
THE GOOD | CAMPBELL HALL MAGAZINE | WINTER 2018 | VOLUME 6