Are you passionate about helping the Earth, growing plants, promoting sustainability, and protecting our planet, while making a real impact on the school and community? If so, the Environmental Club is a place for you!

Led by Mr. Ronny Rayan, science teacher at Niles North, Environmental Club meets every Tuesday after school in room 2350, serving as a space for students to collaborate on eco-focused initiatives.

While the group is still in its early stages this year, they’ve already generated a variety of project ideas from maintaining the school’s Prairie Garden to creating pollinator hotels and even planning a native plant sale using seeds harvested from their garden. 

“Our goal is the first and foremost kind of recruit, get more people to come join us,” Mr. Rayan said. “It would be nice to get more people because we have more people, we have more ideas, more hands, more brains, more ideas to help initiate projects. We have ideas of maybe like creating like outreach, like education, like maybe like posters to kind of like create some tips for people of how to become more sustainable inviting guest speakers were some things people were interested in doing, maybe some type of artwork collaboration that involve the eco art projects murals using or recycled art was something as well.” 

Beyond the environmental impact, the club offers real-world benefits for students. Taking part in sustainability initiatives shows leadership and skill that can strengthen college applications and resumes. 

“I’m here to help them [students] do what they’re actually truly interested in doing,” Mr. Rayan said. “I want this to be their club. So it’s not going to be products I want to make, right? It’s projects that they want to do, that they have real interests in doing, and also how good is it looking at a resume to say that you are taking part in helping your school become more sustainable and more environmentally friendly and lowering the equal footprint? I’m here to help students build their resumes and their skill set, so that they could use that and to help them get into programs.”

For students looking for a place where voices matter and their ideas can grow into actions, the Environmental Club offers that opportunity. 

“I think it’s a great opportunity to learn more about important sustainability practices, whether small or big,” senior Tenzin Choenyi said. “It’s also nice to have a community of people who share the same goals.”

Whether you’re passionate about nature or just curious about how to make a difference, the Environmental Club welcomes you.