Pure Water, Nothing More

September 2012

YMCA Multicultural Achievers at LEAP High School are beginning their fourth year. The approximately 50-70 students in the program have worked for two years on a service-learning project that is centered on the use of plastic water bottle use. Students set out to decrease use of plastic bottles among our
school community as a way to protect the environment. The first year they promoted bringing your own bottle and we sold some aluminum bottles at school. They researched the issue and presented it to students. The second year involved a more organized effort. A small group of students met separately to work on the project. These students created a survey to learn about how students and staff at LEAP use plastic water bottles. They asked questions about habits and then created several education pieces that were facilitated school wide during the school year. Students wanted to do something with a real impact on our community and found the refilling station as one solution. SPPS engineers liked the idea and helped get the project through the correct channels. Achievers applied for and received a grant from Youth Service America-assisted by Achievers staff. The grant was matched by the YMCA and allowed the students to purchase 300 aluminum water bottles. Water bottles were sold (and continue to be) in order to raise funds for a new water bottle refilling station/drinking fountain. The goal was to have a refilling station installed by the end of last school year. Funds were raised and with the aid of the grant, a water bottle refilling station/drinking fountain was installed at LEAP during the summer of 2012.

Shannon Pinc , SPPS Energy and Sustainability Coordinator, Rich Currier from the office of Communications, Facilities engineers at LEAP and within the school district, as well as district plumbers, have all contributed to moving the project forward. Rich produced a video that highlighted the project.
Shannon connected with Sheri Brezinka, the Executive Director of the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC)– MN Chapter to involve us in a poster contest mid-September. The contest requirements asked us to submit a poster showing how our school is green. Students created a poster summarizing
the project and it was submitted via Facebook. The poster won first prize. The Minnesota Twins supported the contest (based on their involvement with the USGBC) and the Achievers won 100 tickets to the Twins game on September 24th, 2012. Approximately 40 to 50 students went to the game
chaperoned by LEAP staff and Achievers facilitators. Two of the students that worked on the project were invited down on the field as the Twins announcer shared our story about reducing plastic water bottle use.

I have acted as Advisor to the YMCA Achievers for the past three years and help to support students and their work here at LEAP. Students are meeting now as this new school year begins and the success of this project has everyone wanting a second refilling station. I think that students may also begin
working on a second ‘green’ project this fall.

Sam DiVita

ELL Teacher, LEAP High School
YMCA Multicultural Achievers Advisor