Environmental Policy in Action: Friends of the San Juans empowers the next generation of environmental leaders
Friday Harbor, WA - The impact of The Madrona Institute's Special License Plate Stewardship Grant program on local environmental initiatives has been vividly demonstrated through the success of the Friday Harbor High School Eco-Club. With the support of a Stewardship Grant, Friends of the San Juans mission to protect and restore the San Juan Islands and the Salish Sea has not only thrived but has also empowered young leaders to take charge in fostering environmental action and stewardship on San Juan Island and beyond.
With the help of this grant, Friends of the San Juans staff, in collaboration with Katie Fleming (San Juan County Solid Waste Coordinator), conducted weekly meetings with 10-12 students from the Eco-Club throughout the 2022/2023 school year. Encouragingly, this collaboration witnessed a notable surge in student initiative, leading to the establishment of an official school club through the ASB (Associated Student Body). The creation of club officers, including a President, Vice President, Secretary, and Treasurer, reflects a newfound sense of agency and self-led responsibilities among the students. This laid the groundwork for student-led fundraising for the club in order to attain long-term sustainability and options for Eco-club swag, hosting events, etc.
A highlight of the Eco-Club's journey was a successful trip to Olympia, where students immersed themselves in learning about the Washington Recycling and Packaging (WRAP) Act. Although the act did not pass, the students gained valuable insights into legislative engagement. The club's proactive approach extended to addressing school waste and recycling issues, including a comprehensive trash audit at the high school. This audit paved the way for future campaigns, focusing on education and outreach initiatives to minimize prevalent waste identified during the audit.
The Eco-Club's impact also reached beyond the high school, with a successful visit to the elementary school. During this visit, students engaged with younger peers during lunchtime, exploring ways to reduce one-time use waste and food waste at the elementary level. The positive reception from teachers, students, and school administrators highlights the club's ability to inspire and connect with diverse audiences.
At the end of the school year, an evaluation was conducted, revealing an overwhelmingly positive attitude among Eco-Club members. The enthusiasm expressed by the students underscores their commitment to continue their action projects and revisit Olympia with focused asks and campaigns in the following school year. This success story exemplifies how stewardship grants can empower the younger generation to actively contribute to environmental conservation and community engagement.
More about Friends of the San Juans
Friends of the San Juans, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization based in San Juan County, works locally and throughout the region using innovative public-private partnerships, applied science, legal advocacy, and community-based initiatives to protect the land, water, and sea for those of us here today and for future generations. Friends of the San Juans has engaged youth in science and conservation education in local schools for over 20 years. They currently offer two programs for youth engagement: the Immersive Salish Sea Education Program and High School Student Mentorships through Eco-club.
2022 Grantees include:
$10,000 to the San Juan Islands Conservation District for their San Juan Islands Youth Conservation Corps program
$10,000 to the Madrona Institute for their Coast Salish Youth Coalition/Stewardship Corps program
$5,000 to the Friends of the San Juans for their Youth Environmental Mentoring Program
$5,000 to the Alchemy Art Center for their Young Environmentalists Arts Intensive Program
$5,000 to the San Juan Islands Agricultural Guild for their Farm Heroes for Environmental Stewardship Program
$5,000 to Wild Orca for their San Juan Islands Naturalist Program
$5,000 to the Children of the Setting Sun Productions to support the creation of the Indigenous film series and pilot episode “The Sound”
Awards are made on an annual basis for local projects and programs that support the conservation and stewardship of agricultural, cultural, historic, and natural resources in the islands, with emphasis on youth engagement and environmental justice.