Long after the bell has rung and most students have already left campus, a group of students bustle through the hallways with rolling garbage cans, collecting items from recycling bins outside teachers’ classrooms. These students are part of Bak’s Green Team, a club dedicated to improving the environment. 

The Green Team is a Bak club dedicated to improving the environment. Led by Mrs. Bejarano, the club’s sponsor, Green Team meets every other Thursday in the media center workroom, where they do a variety of activities such as recycling paper and cardboard items, learning how to be more environmentally friendly, and forming new friendships. In the past, the Green Team has worked on numerous projects including planting Bak’s butterfly garden in 2019. 

“Being Green stands for caring about your environment and making an effort to reduce your environmental impact. Our mission is to make an impact on our school community with the intention it will carry over into their home life,” Bejarano said.

Green Team’s schedule is specifically curated to incorporate both their duties and a chance to have fun. 

“We meet in the media center workroom, look for our assigned areas where we will collect recycling then place it in the recycling dumpster.  We clean up and enjoy a snack before we work on our projects; planning or implementing them. We strive to get the work done so we can have a fun time playing games at the end of our meetings,” Bejarano said. 

Other than working on projects within the school, the Green Team also organizes and participates in competitions and challenges outside of school. 

“We’re working on the Bin-it project where people leave clothes in a metal box– clothes that they don’t use– and we donate it to people in need of those clothes or recycle it into something, into a different thing,” Dylan Cifuentes, Green Team’s president, said. 

Members have said being a part of the Green Team is a fulfilling experience for them.

 “I love being in Green Team because I’m able to contribute and help out with everything going on in the background,” Journey Riche, Green Team member said. 

Green Team means more to its members than just recycling. Members gain knowledge and experience during their time at the club, and they can implement this knowledge into their day-to-day lives.

“My goal is to have the students learn how to be a team player, learn how to become an officer, learn to be green, and make new friendships.  All of this will translate into their future endeavors; be it in high school, college, or life.” Bejarano said. 

Green Team also includes a variety of positions for their club, such as President, Public Relations Officer, Attendance Secretary, Recording Secretary, Historian, Treasurer, and Garden Representative. Elections were held earlier in the year when students ran for their desired position. .

“I decided to run for historian because it sounded like a good way to get more involved in the club. I really like my position. It’s something that I would say suits me well. Taking pictures, posting them, and sharing them, it fits me.” Bella Desmondez, Green Team’s historian said. 

As Green Team progresses, it aspires to make the world a cleaner place, one meeting at a time.

“I hope Green Team is able to clean not only the inside of the school but the outside too,” Cifuentes said.