Westminster Outdoor Westminster Outdoor Life CommitteeLife Committee

Co-Directors: Alex Schulte and Clarke Co-Directors: Alex Schulte and Clarke Morrison Morrison

Team Members: Maggie Niehaus, Palmer Team Members: Maggie Niehaus, Palmer Greene, Frank Schwahn, Sam Tarpav Greene, Frank Schwahn, Sam Tarpav

Overview of InitiativesOverview of Initiatives

Locate and eradicate invasive species on campus Locate and eradicate invasive species on campus Draw up a set of sustainable guidelines for water Draw up a set of sustainable guidelines for water

usage on campus (Westminster Schools Water usage on campus (Westminster Schools Water Conservation Avowal)Conservation Avowal)

Slow and ultimately reverse stream bank erosion Slow and ultimately reverse stream bank erosion Spread environmental awarenessSpread environmental awareness Enhance native species habitat on campus Enhance native species habitat on campus Augment existing composting and gardening effortsAugment existing composting and gardening efforts

Locate and Eradicate Invasive Locate and Eradicate Invasive Species Species

To get started quickly and To get started quickly and efficiently we focused our efforts on efficiently we focused our efforts on one debilitating plant: Chinese one debilitating plant: Chinese privet (privet (LigustrumLigustrum)). .

Privet runs rampant on the lush Privet runs rampant on the lush bottomlands of campus, drastically bottomlands of campus, drastically decreasing biodiversity by decreasing biodiversity by suffocating native species. suffocating native species.

It has no native predators or It has no native predators or pathogens: that’s where we came in. pathogens: that’s where we came in.

We chose one particularly stricken We chose one particularly stricken area to start with, cut the bushes, area to start with, cut the bushes, and we plan to uproot the stumps to and we plan to uproot the stumps to ensure no resurgence occurs. ensure no resurgence occurs.

For future projects we have our eyes For future projects we have our eyes set on bamboo (which also grows set on bamboo (which also grows on campus and can be removed by on campus and can be removed by our local zoo for panda fodder, our local zoo for panda fodder, http://www.zooatlanta.org/support_http://www.zooatlanta.org/support_us_donate_bamboo.htmus_donate_bamboo.htm) )

Westminster Schools Water Conservation Westminster Schools Water Conservation Avowal Avowal

As stewards of the environment and members of the Earth community, we believe in conserving water wherever possible in order maximize preservation of this limited resource. The Westminster CCC Lexus Team 2 has drafted a multi-faceted program to conserve water in as many forms of its on-campus usage as possible, using the methods outlined below:

1. Prepare guidelines for sustainable use of on-campus wells – To combat the drought in the southeast, Westminster has looked for an alternate method of refilling its outdoor pool, which loses one inch of water a day to evaporation, without drawing extra water from the city’s water lines. A solution was found in tapping local ground water. A well has been drilled on campus to access our groundwater resources. However, since groundwater is outside regulation by the city, the Westminster CCC Lexus Team 2 will draw up a guideline to ensure that we draw water from the well at a sustainable rate and no more.

2. Reduce usage of water in our bathrooms – We have already installed waterless urinals in the Westminster Physical plant and are considering installation in additional facilities around campus. All toilets around Westminster have been retrofitted with low water flow technology as well. Waterless urinals and dual flush technology in combination will save Westminster gallons of water every day.

3. Use gray water for irrigation – In our on-campus greenhouse we are harvesting water from the fish tank to water native trees planted on campus last fall. This way water is recycled to nourish biodiversity on campus.

4. Build rain barrels to harvest rainwater for irrigation – This year for our annual school-wide service day, Westminster seniors turned plastic drums into rain harvesting barrels to collect water to be used for irrigation. School-wide cooperation on this project also increased environmental awareness and showed students how to work as a team to conserve our resources.

5. Landscape our campus with drought-resistant plant species – We will no longer use water thirsty plants to landscape our school’s entrances. Instead, we will plant drought resistant species that require no irrigation, further reducing the amount of water drawn from the city.

Senior Rainbarrel ProjectSenior Rainbarrel Project

A homeroom works together to put the finishing touches on their rainbarrel, above.

Students drill a hole in the top of their barrel so that it collects water, at right.

Slow and Reverse Stream Bank Slow and Reverse Stream Bank Erosion Erosion

Westminster’s campus is large, wooded, and surrounded by Nancy Creek. Westminster’s campus is large, wooded, and surrounded by Nancy Creek. The creek is an important habitat for plant and animal life, and it ultimately The creek is an important habitat for plant and animal life, and it ultimately feeds into the larger Chattahoochee River. feeds into the larger Chattahoochee River.

Due the increase in impermeable surfaces on campus (asphalt, new roofs, Due the increase in impermeable surfaces on campus (asphalt, new roofs, etc.) rainwater runoff has drastically increased, causing severe erosion on etc.) rainwater runoff has drastically increased, causing severe erosion on some stream bank areas.some stream bank areas.

To help slow this process we have developed a plan that will stabilize the To help slow this process we have developed a plan that will stabilize the banks and increase native species populations. banks and increase native species populations.

Our plan: Working together with WISOR, a club that seeks to increase Our plan: Working together with WISOR, a club that seeks to increase sustainability on campus, we will transplant native species such as sustainability on campus, we will transplant native species such as Christmas fern, ginger, trout lily, and other plants that we can get from the Christmas fern, ginger, trout lily, and other plants that we can get from the Georgia Native Plant Society, to eroded stream banks. Their root systems Georgia Native Plant Society, to eroded stream banks. Their root systems will then form a natural soil net and protect our precious creek from will then form a natural soil net and protect our precious creek from harmful amounts of sediment. harmful amounts of sediment.

Spread Environmental AwarenessSpread Environmental Awareness Impassioned students made weekly announcements to their classmates in Impassioned students made weekly announcements to their classmates in

group homeroom, notifying them of conservation tips and opportunities to group homeroom, notifying them of conservation tips and opportunities to help “green” Westminster. help “green” Westminster.

Our committee has drafted an article describing our stewardship efforts for Our committee has drafted an article describing our stewardship efforts for the Westminster newsletter that will make its way to thousands of alumni. the Westminster newsletter that will make its way to thousands of alumni. We set up our own blog to share ideas and deadlines, and invited friends We set up our own blog to share ideas and deadlines, and invited friends from far-away states, such as Maine, New York, and Connecticut, to read from far-away states, such as Maine, New York, and Connecticut, to read about our initiatives so that they might start similar movements in their about our initiatives so that they might start similar movements in their own communities ( own communities ( http://http://westminsteroutdoors.blogspot.comwestminsteroutdoors.blogspot.com ).).

This year, Christian Emphasis Week (an annual tradition which centers on This year, Christian Emphasis Week (an annual tradition which centers on topics of faith) focused on environmental stewardship, bringing the topics of faith) focused on environmental stewardship, bringing the message of sustainability to a wider audience. It was a great success, with message of sustainability to a wider audience. It was a great success, with speakers who focused on the link between Christian values and speakers who focused on the link between Christian values and environmental responsibility. The week culminated in a day of community environmental responsibility. The week culminated in a day of community service, where all the high school classes assisted with environmentally-service, where all the high school classes assisted with environmentally-themed projects. Service day is mandatory, so nearly 800 students themed projects. Service day is mandatory, so nearly 800 students participated in these projects.participated in these projects.

Spreading the Word…Spreading the Word… We contacted the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, the largest We contacted the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, the largest

newspaper in Georgia, with a press release concerning our newspaper in Georgia, with a press release concerning our participation in the Lexus Environmental Challenge. The AJC participation in the Lexus Environmental Challenge. The AJC reaches readers across the state of Georgia. Unfortunately, reaches readers across the state of Georgia. Unfortunately, due to economic considerations, the paper declined to publish due to economic considerations, the paper declined to publish our release.our release.

However, we have contacted another local publication, which However, we have contacted another local publication, which will hopefully disseminate information about our team’s will hopefully disseminate information about our team’s efforts, though, unfortunately, to a more localized audience.efforts, though, unfortunately, to a more localized audience.

Though our first attempt to gain media coverage was Though our first attempt to gain media coverage was ultimately unsuccessful, we will continue to pursue media ultimately unsuccessful, we will continue to pursue media outlets until we succeed in getting the word out about our outlets until we succeed in getting the word out about our team’s cause to the greater Atlanta area.team’s cause to the greater Atlanta area.

Native Species HabitatNative Species Habitat In late February, the green house echoed with hammer strikes as In late February, the green house echoed with hammer strikes as

about 15 students from all grades assembled 17 blue bird houses about 15 students from all grades assembled 17 blue bird houses to set up on campus. Next year we plan to take the next step by to set up on campus. Next year we plan to take the next step by building more complicated wood duck houses. Many students building more complicated wood duck houses. Many students who were previously uninvolved with either of Westminster’s who were previously uninvolved with either of Westminster’s two environmentally-minded clubs came to build the bird houses. two environmentally-minded clubs came to build the bird houses.

Earlier in the year, we planted many different species of native Earlier in the year, we planted many different species of native trees, several of which are threatened in the southeast. These trees, several of which are threatened in the southeast. These plantings continued the strong work done by last year’s club plantings continued the strong work done by last year’s club members, and we plan to pursue this project in years to come.members, and we plan to pursue this project in years to come.

We have made wise use of our green space, first by enhancing the We have made wise use of our green space, first by enhancing the soil’s porosity with sand, and then by planting giant sunflowers soil’s porosity with sand, and then by planting giant sunflowers and other native flora on the islands in the Senior parking lot, to and other native flora on the islands in the Senior parking lot, to give migrating birds and butterflies a much-needed food source. give migrating birds and butterflies a much-needed food source.

Native Species Habitat: Birdhouse Native Species Habitat: Birdhouse Workshop!Workshop!

Above left: Seniors work together to assemble birdhouses (3 of whom are not regular WISOR or CCC members.) Above right: A student and the WISOR faculty advisor, Kyle Vermillion, pose with the first completed birdhouse.

Augment and Investigate On-Campus Augment and Investigate On-Campus Gardening and CompostGardening and Compost

Our outdoor education program is Our outdoor education program is looking for a more responsible way to looking for a more responsible way to dispose of its unused camp rations, so dispose of its unused camp rations, so we plan to develop a compost and we plan to develop a compost and garden system on Westminster’s garden system on Westminster’s adjacent Summer Camp grounds. adjacent Summer Camp grounds. Unused food will be turned into rich Unused food will be turned into rich fertilizer for an onsite garden. fertilizer for an onsite garden.

The administration has assigned us the The administration has assigned us the task of locating a viable compost task of locating a viable compost location. In other words, we have been location. In other words, we have been given the green light to expand our given the green light to expand our existing compost efforts! existing compost efforts!

In Westminster’s elementary school, In Westminster’s elementary school, students can test their green thumbs at students can test their green thumbs at a community garden, cultivating an a community garden, cultivating an appreciation for the natural world at a appreciation for the natural world at a young age. We plan to set up bi-young age. We plan to set up bi-monthly trips to this garden through monthly trips to this garden through CCC, so that high school students CCC, so that high school students might spend time with elementary might spend time with elementary school students, and enjoy nature, as school students, and enjoy nature, as well.well.

How We Would Use the Prize Money, if How We Would Use the Prize Money, if We WonWe Won

In keeping with our many tree plantings on campus in the last In keeping with our many tree plantings on campus in the last few years, we plan to use some of the money to plant more few years, we plan to use some of the money to plant more trees, so that we could near—and, hopefully, achieve—trees, so that we could near—and, hopefully, achieve—arboretum status for the Westminster campus.arboretum status for the Westminster campus.

We would also use the money to install more waterless We would also use the money to install more waterless urinals/ dual flush toilets (at least one in every major academic urinals/ dual flush toilets (at least one in every major academic building on campus).building on campus).

We would purchase an industrial-sized and –quality compost We would purchase an industrial-sized and –quality compost bin to kick start Westminster’s composting efforts on a large bin to kick start Westminster’s composting efforts on a large scale.scale.

We would finance the growth of the two gardens on campus We would finance the growth of the two gardens on campus by supplying tools, gloves, seeds, plants, and whatever else the by supplying tools, gloves, seeds, plants, and whatever else the fledgling gardens might require. fledgling gardens might require.

In conclusion, we feel that our plan can be In conclusion, we feel that our plan can be effectively implemented, not only in our own effectively implemented, not only in our own community, but globally, as well. By community, but globally, as well. By educating our school, friends, and family about educating our school, friends, and family about the importance of environmental the importance of environmental sustainability, we hope to instill a sense of sustainability, we hope to instill a sense of responsibility for the natural world and set an responsibility for the natural world and set an example of environmental leadership. example of environmental leadership.