The Ecochallenge team from High Meadow School in Stone Ridge won plaudits for its 30-day environmental and social engagement virtual program in April 1-30. Over 800 teams from across the United States participated.
Eighth graders from High Meadow’s class of 2020 created the team. The captains were Emily Andrews, Georgia Amenoff, Maitreya Motel and Paulotta DeChiara-Saffer. They recruited teammates who all chose actions that were practiced one-time or daily. The activities were from categories including wildlife, freshwater, oceans, people, food, climate and forests. The team had 66 members
Co-captain Motel is going to use the energy and what she learned in the Ecochallenge to help her stay motivated for the upcoming presidential election, “I think that this work is vital because if politicians don’t help us, we’re not going to sit idly by,” she said. “We’re going to help ourselves. And help elect some better politicians.”