Investigative Series: Katelynn Heilman – FHC’s impact on the environment: how can we all do better?

Environmental Science teacher Chad Scholten is a proud ‘tree-hugger.’ Being an environmentalist—and teaching others to claim that title—for as long as he has means Scholten has seen students' relationships with the environment continuously develop over the years. Watching as the environment became ‘trendy’ and as students became more invested in the environment year after year has b...

Jaye Beeler-Jelier is passionately educated on the environment and has also written her own book about the positive impact of buying foods locally, eating sustainably, and experiencing what homegrown foods Michigan has to offer. This book is entitled Tasting and Touring Michigan's Homegrown Food. 1. What are extra things you do to help the environment? "I always save any type of paper and I u...

1. What are extra things you do to help the environment? "Recently we've been doing a lot in AP Environmental Science with [learning about] our diets and how what we eat impacts the environment. So, I decided to go vegetarian. That's a change I've made recently, but in general, I compost and recycle at my own house." 2. Why do you feel like doing your part for the environment is important? "Any li...

1. What are extra things you do to help the environment? "I recycle at my house and at school. I also have a garden at my house where we grow our own vegetables and fruits." 2. Why do you feel like doing your part for the environment is important? "This is a shared world, and my [actions] aren't only going to affect me; they're going affect everyone." 3. What's a pet peeve you have related to ho...

I became a vegetarian almost exactly one year ago after watching the documentary Food, Inc. in my AP Environmental Science class. This documentary, one I recommend everyone watch, exposes the meat production industry and explains the intensely negative environmental impacts it has.  In short, greenhouse gas emissions, deforestation, excessive water usage, and the use of toxic pesticides are unavo...

In recent years, as the rapidly declining rate of Earth becomes a more intensely looming threat, the gloom of the planet’s future has become incredibly disheartening and seemingly unavoidable.  It’s difficult to illustrate the state of Earth and eloquently establish how dire the need for change is. In short: very. The planet is suffering; climate change is both real and extremely threatening, a...