By Neysa Hardin, El Paso Group Sierra Student Coalition leader
On Sept. 8, Americas High School Sierra Student Coalition partnered with the Chamizal National Memorial to celebrate International Literacy Day.
SSC students performed a reader’s theater of the children’s story “The Campfire that Changed America” to fourth-graders at Loma Verde Elementary. The students re-enacted the Yosemite camping trip between President Theodore Roosevelt and John Muir, founder of the Sierra Club, that led to the establishment of our national parks and monuments.
“Teaching little kids about the importance of preserving natural places is important so that when they grow up, they will want to take care of our planet,” said Julia Castillo, who played President Roosevelt.
Americas High School Sierra Student Coalition students presented a copy of the book to Loma Verde’s librarian to add to the school’s library collection.
At the end of the performance, Ranger Olivares and Centennial Ambassador Herrera from the Chamizal National Memorial provided every fourth-grader with a free National Park pass as part of the National Parks’ “Every Kid in a Park” centennial celebration program.
Americas High School Sierra Student Coalition students are capitalizing on the centennial birthday of the National Park Service to introduce youth to the outdoors and to teach the importance of conservation.
Throughout the 2015-2016 school year, Americas High School Sierra Student Coalition students will visit national parks and monuments around the West Texas and Southern New Mexico area to spread the message about preservation of America’s public lands.
To learn more about joining our Sierra Student Coalition, contact Neysa Hardin at nrhardin@yahoo.com.
Photo by Neysa Hardin
America’s High School is doing a great job engaging their students helping them to understand the values of the Sierra Club. Hats off to everyone involved.