Celebrating a Year of Impact: SWEP Sustainability Clubs Wrap Up the School Year

As the end of the school year wraps up, we are reflecting on the amazing work our SWEP sustainability clubs have done this year. These clubs span all grade levels—from Green Teams in elementary school, to EcoAction Clubs in middle school, and Envirolution Club in high school. They all take action to protect our environment for today and for the future, embodying SWEP’s mission, “action fosters hope.”

Green Teams: Starting Young, Dreaming Big 

Our Green teams at Glenshire Elementary, Truckee Elementary, Sierra Expeditionary Learning School, Kings Beach Elementary, Tahoe Lake Elementary, and Creekside Charter School have made strides to help our schools and community become more environmentally conscious. These young stewards learned about key environmental issues such as waste, energy, and water conservation, and turned that knowledge into action.

From crafting upcycled art for school bulletin boards to producing educational videos about waste sorting, the Green Teams have found creative ways to raise awareness among their peers. They’ve also conducted classroom waste and energy audits, presented zero-waste lunch ideas to younger students, and participated in a local watershed clean-up. Their enthusiasm and dedication shine through in everything they do. Thank you, Green Teams, for all your hard work and the energy you’ve poured into making our planet a better place!

Eco-Action Clubs: Advocating Through Art and Action

Our middle school EcoAction Clubs at Sierra Expeditionary Learning School and North Tahoe Middle School took things a step further this year, diving into long-term advocacy and awareness projects.

At Sierra Expeditionary Learning School, students, alongside peers from Alder Creek Middle School, participated in the Dark Skies Movement, a campaign focused on reducing light pollution. Through this project, students learned how excessive artificial light affects wildlife, human health, and energy use, and how it dims the wonder of the night sky. They used their artistic talents to create paintings of nighttime scenes, visually advocating for the preservation of dark skies. SWEP partnered with Town of Truckee, Truckee Cultural District, Town of Truckee, Nevada County Arts Council, and Tahoe Truckee Unified School District and now these paintings are part of an exhibition showing at Truckee Town Hall.

Meanwhile, at North Tahoe Middle School, the EcoAction Club partnered with Clean Up The Lake to raise awareness about the ongoing issue of litter in Lake Tahoe. Students created a powerful art installation using real trash recovered from the lake, transforming waste into a visual statement on the importance of responsible environmental behavior, especially in the Tahoe area. Their creativity and commitment paid off—the sculpture earned first place in the Green Circle Division of the Shane McConkey Eco Challenge! Congratulations to our EcoAction students for your inspiring work and well-deserved recognition. The sculpture will be on display at the Gatekeepers Museum in Tahoe City this summer.

Envirolution: Taking Action Against Climate Anxiety 

At the high school level, our Envirolution Clubs at Truckee High and North Tahoe High have made impressive strides toward real, actionable change. These students are turning climate anxiety into climate action, and their efforts speak volumes.

To tackle lunchroom waste, they introduced share carts that collect uneaten food, compostable waste, and reusable items, reducing landfill contributions and encouraging a more sustainable school culture. Addressing the environmental impact of fast fashion, they also hosted their annual SWAP for the Planet event, where students exchanged clothes instead of buying new ones, promoting conscious consumerism and reducing clothing waste.

And of course, for the seventeenth year running, Envirolution Clubs hosted the famous SWEP Trashion Show. Held at multiple elementary schools and at the Village at Palisades Tahoe on Earth Day, this event featured fashion made entirely from trash. These wearable works of art highlighted issues like waste, microplastics, fast fashion, and the need to protect our winters. Envirolution students spent months designing and building their outfits, using fashion as a bold platform to raise awareness and spark change.

A Year To Remember

Our sustainability clubs have truly outdone themselves this year—showing up, speaking out, and putting in the time and energy to create meaningful impact. From hands-on action to artful advocacy, these students are leading the way and reminding us all that no effort is too small when it comes to protecting our planet.

We are so proud of every student involved. You are an inspiration to your schools, your communities, and the world. Keep going. The future needs you.