From the time any of us could understand what was happening in the world, we’ve all been told the same thing: protect the environment! It’s a declaration so simple, yet we still have trouble finding ways to care for our planet. We try to entrust these ideas to newer generations, but just talking about the issue or taking direct action isn’t always enough. It is difficult to convince a handful of teenagers to pick up trash whenever they’re on their beach-ridden vacations. They can, however, be bribed into learning more about the planet if some material thing comes with this knowledge – which is the exact approach the environmental club took this year.

This time around, the club decided to work with 4Ocean, an organization that sells bracelets from trash found in the ocean. The foundation has been around since 2015 and has removed millions of pounds of trash just by selling these bracelets. Each beaded band removes a pound of trash from the ocean, without having the buyer take direct action. By removing this waste, sea creatures’ habitats are protected while providing a gift to those who help raise money. This method has won over the Dubs, leaving them with an awareness of the planet – and a newly decked-out wrist.

Environmentally conscious Warriors have really dialed into the cause this year. Led by Senior Liza Fagin, the club has raised over $2,000 for 4Ocean. Fagin thinks that this will have more of a lasting impact than just talking about polluted oceans. “It really keeps the conversation going,” she said. “Maybe someone looks down at your 4Ocean bracelet, and then five minutes later they know much more about pollution’s effects on the ocean.”

The fundraising opportunity also created a fun competition for members of the club. For two weeks, the fight was on to see which club member could raise the most money. For Sophomore Annie Neufeld, this project gave her some serious nostalgia. “It felt like I was back in Girl Scouts,” she said. “It’s fun to do something knowing it can help the planet too.”

While some were only interested in some new bling, many buyers were curious to know about the ocean and its affected ecosystems. Sophomore Mary Woodward experienced this with super-teacher Mr. Oliver. “Not only was he willing to buy one,” she said. “But he was very interested in knowing what the project was for, which is super cool.”

It’s great to see the Dubs finding cool new ways to concurrently fundraise and stay stylish. At the end of the day, there’s only one planet for us, and we have to take care of it. The environmental club has really shown us that saving the earth doesn’t have to be boring!