Posted 1-22-10

MEAYEA

(Mt. Edgecumbe chapter of Alaska Youth for Environmental Action)

MEAYEA is a regional chapter of the state-wide Alaska Youth for Environmental Action (AYEA), devoted to creating and executing projects to raise awareness for environmental conservation and sustainability.

MEAYEA works with Sitka Conservation Society and RecycleSITKA on projects throughout the MEHS campus and city of Sitka.

Lydia Agnus, president of MEAYEA, works on posters to recruit members.

MEAYEA is made up of members from over ten different communities all across Alaska.  Members discuss current environmental concerns from Sitka to St. Paul, Bethel to Point Hope.

Tyler Walker and Aaliq Rowland, sharing a laugh.

Sherry Horner, working hard at a MEAYEA meeting.

MEAYEA is a student-run club; members learn valuable leadership skills to help raise awareness of environmental issues and problem-solve solutions.

MEAYEA members attend state-wide trainings, such as leadership conferences and a Civics Summit, to gain the skills needed to be effective community leaders.  Last year students gathered signatures supporting the funding of renewable energy sources, and club president Stephanie Thompson presented the signatures to the Alaska State Legislature in Juneau.

MEAYEA manages a recycling program at MEHS.  This includes the construction of large bins for recycling plastics and a system to dispose of the school’s fluorescent light bulbs.

Sherry Horner, Victoria Baalam, and Eddie Pete take care of the weekly recycling.

Tyler Walker inspects a fluorescent light.

The MEHS campus can go through hundreds of these bulbs in a year. MEAYEA, working with RecycleSITKA, has disposed of over 300 of these bulbs in a way that does not release toxins, such as mercury, into the environment.

MEAYEA members pose next to a hand-built plastic recycling bin.

MEAYEA also sponsors a campus-wide “Week-Without-Plastics.”

MEAYEA works hard to minimize the impact of plastics in our environment.  Members designed organic cotton bags as an alternative to using plastic bags.  The logo was designed by past president Stephanie Thompson, and members sell them on campus and throughout Sitka. 

Donald, Malorie, Jane, Angelica, Aaliq, Jennifer, and Jackson model MEAYEA bags.

Over 100 MEAYEA bags have already been sold.  The club has just ordered more in a variety of colors.

Jackson and Leah help raise funds for new recycling bins for MEHS.

Jackson, Jane, and Lydia sell bags and share information (as well as smiles) at their booth at The Wild and Scenic Film Festival in Sitka.

MEAYEA is always looking for new members.  The club meets at 4 pm every Tuesday in Mr. Hay’s room.