Day 19 - Larry Leach, Langevin School Parent Volunteer

Our responsible little citizens.

I had the honour of helping out Langevin School on Earth Day. Just like when I went to school in the 70's and 80's, we were tasked with picking up litter in the immediate area of the school. So what did I learn? The difference the students are making day to day within the school is really what makes the societal differences.

I saw this on the wall:

Why the Landfill? Cups made of styrofoam take more than 900 years to properly break down. Cups made with Petroleum bases  (Waxy) take 10-100 years to decompose.

Recycle mixed beverage containers:

 “Rinse first please” is not something we see in your everyday beverage recycling container. Great advice. 

            How are disposable cups made? Mass produced in factories. Starbucks makes 2.52 billion cups every year.

            This is remarkable.

Since September 2012, with 3 weeks down for repairs, Langevin students have saved 53,092 water bottles by filling their bottles in this fountain.

So what I learned, is that these yearly, awareness type events are nice, but Langevin shows in it's day to day studies that it is a lifestyle of environmental awareness, knowledge and good habits that will put our next generation on the right path.

Larry Leach (@ARTICSchair) is a parent volunteer at Langevin School and is the Chair for the Association for Responsive Trusteeship in Calgary Schools.