In a stride towards environmental consciousness, McLean’s Science National Honor Society (SNHS) is initiating a program in partnership with the McLean Trees Foundation. The primary focus of the collaboration is to allow the members of the Environmental Awareness Committee of SNHS to take part in removing invasive plants from Lewinsville and McLean’s premises.
Invasive plants pose a significant threat to the delicate balance of local ecosystems. By crowding out native vegetation and disrupting natural processes, they jeopardize biodiversity. This volunteer program, spearheaded by SNHS, aims to address this issue directly by uprooting invasive species from the immediate school surroundings and the broader McLean area.
“[The society] wanted to spread awareness about the importance of taking care of our environment, even if it meant planting one tree at a time or removing invasives,” said senior Sooma Ghodsi, head of the Environmental Awareness Committee. “Many students don’t know that these opportunities exist, so having a committee dedicated to making our environment more biodiverse helps move us in the right direction and build community bonds.”
By teaming up with the McLean Trees Foundation, SNHS has brought a wealth of expertise to the initiative. Through this collaboration, participants will not only engage in hands-on conservation work but also benefit from the guidance and knowledge provided by experts in the field, as the foundation has been planting and preserving plants in McLean for 50+ years.
“We reached out to the chair of the Mclean Trees Foundation, Carol Wolter, and had a meeting with her to talk about possible projects students could get involved in,” Ghodsi said. “Working with the foundation has been a smooth and efficient process so far.”
As of now, SNHS plans to conduct weekly two-hour meetings after school starting in February to start the project, but the exact dates have yet to be determined.
“Our hope is to emphasize the importance of taking action and participating in the community,” Ghodsi said. “We want people to get excited about helping improve the environment because it affects everyone in the long run.”
SNHS encourages all interested individuals to join this specific project, noting that every volunteer’s contribution is invaluable.
“By joining the Environmental Awareness Committee in SNHS, individuals can contribute to a huge cause and get hands-on experience in helping benefit the community and environment,” Ghodsi said. “They would become highly informed about the world around them and the importance of maintaining a biodiverse environment.”
