Making Bozeman a Little Greener

With the school year up and running, students are seeking new ways to join the community and discover new experiences. These experiences come in the form of sports tryouts, extracurriculars, and, of course, clubs.

One such club you can look into is the Environmental Club. Run by students and advised by Mr. Trevor Nichols, the Environmental Club is a great way to get involved in deep Montanan advocacy. As Devon Hanley, a senior at Gallatin High School, member of the Environmental Club, and leader of the Political Activism affairs, said, “A huge part of Montana is its natural environment; however more often than not we forget about it. Sure, we may enjoy hiking or skiing, yet we’re still contributing to the downfall of these activities.”

Environmental Club has many aspects, but its primary goal is to make Gallatin High School a more environmentally friendly place. Samuel Fay, a senior as well as a co-founder and the Communications Manager of Environmental Club, elaborated on this goal. “Whether that’s through compost, talking with senators and house representatives, or creating opportunities for more hands-on learning in our biology, environmental science, and/or wildlife classes.”

Currently, the Environmental Club is focusing on a new project called “Trout in the Classroom.” According to Fay, “This will allow us to ethically raise trout spawn to adult before releasing them into specially sanctioned bodies of water.” Hanley  added, “[The project] is meant to bring students closer to natural environments, such as by bringing in creatures like trout and using it as a lesson.”

So far the club has been running for about half a year, and this is its first year in full operation. As said by Fay, “The club began officially last year in May after a couple of my friends and I realized that the Conservation Club was no longer active. We decided to fill that gap.” These actions go to show that if students see something that requires changing, there is no need to wait around for someone to come along and fix it. We are capable of making things happen on our own, and Hanley agreed with this by saying, “We have the voice. And we have the audacity to go out and say, ‘What you have done has screwed our lives up.’ We will be the generation to change the course, change our ideology, so future generations don’t have to deal with the same things we do.”

Both club members went on to argue that collectivity is often the best course of action. Fay said, “It is important to help spread the word because the more people we have in our club, the more legitimacy we have. Additionally, all of my fellow leaders are seniors, so we need to create a legacy so that the club will continue in future years.” Fay’s words show that creating something with others can have a long-lasting effect on the school, the community, and the world. Hanley issued a similar response, saying that we, as students, need to “Use your voice. Your voice is your most important tool as students, as activists. The best way to start is by starting, and it’s best to start collectively.” After all, it’s called the ‘student body’ for a reason. The more we work together, the more we can ensure a healthier and safer life for ourselves and our future.

Fay ended by hinting at a fundraiser the Environmental Club will be setting up soon, so if students aren’t able to join the club, “It would be amazing if they could help [with the fundraiser].” If you’re interested in learning more about Environmental Club or what else you can do to advocate for a greener Bozeman, Montana, head to room A243 during lunch on Wednesdays.