April is Earth Month and the Hillsdale College Conservation Club continues to offer opportunities aimed at supporting the Earth and local community.
The club’s annual cleaning of the Slayton Arboretum is just one of the events the club plans each Earth month.
“I think our main focus is educating people about how to preserve our Earth well for future generations, and we actively engage in things like our Arb cleanup,” club President Josephine VanBerkum said.
Beekeeper Elizabeth Speck said the environmental change in the Arb is noticeable.
“I’ve gone to I think every single one since my first semester here freshman year, and we’ve been able to see the progress of the projects that we’re doing,” Speck said.
In addition to the Arb cleanup, the club previously hosted a tote bag painting event at the beginning of the year and a lecture this semester focused on conservation and Christianity.
One reason for the cleanup is to give back and protect the place we call home, board member Sydney Metikosh said.
“In Conservation Club, we get to see parts of campus that are very slept on, usually they’re very underappreciated,” Metikosh said. “I think it’s really nice to be able to spend time in places that go underappreciated– like when we clean up the Arb or spend time on the quad together during our tote bag event.”
Metikosh said that cleaning the Arb also unites her with people that she wouldn’t otherwise interact with.
This community appeal is part of the reason freshman Caitlyn Haggstrom, who now serves as secretary, was attracted to the club. She attended the tote bag painting event held at the beginning of the school year.
This year, the board decided to replace the typical welcome picnic with the tote bag decorating, according to a club email. Bags cost $3 to purchase and students could paint them, while also getting to meet other members of the club.
“I really liked the tote bag painting we did the first week because we got connected,” Haggstrom said. “It was important as a freshman meeting other freshmen who have similar goals.”
While Haggstrom described the event as a fun activity, Vice President Carly Steele said the event was impactful in offering an alternative way to reduce waste.
“I thought it was a fun and trendy way to introduce people to low-dose environmentalism,” Steele said.
Another way in which the club attempted to reach out to members of the community was through an event focused on Christianity and environmentalism.
In early March, the club organized a professor panel titled “Christianity, Scripture, and Conservation.”
With the nature of politics today, speaking out about conservation can be difficult— but VanBerkum said the issue isn’t political. It’s rooted in Christian values.
“Genesis makes the point of saying humans are stewards of the Earth,” VanBerkum said. “We’re here to take care of it.”
At the March lecture, Assistant Professor of Theology Cody Strecker explained how God designated animals and humans with specific roles. Humans are responsible for taking care of the Earth, VanBerkum said. However, she also explained how it is important that humans do not interfere with the animal’s role or with some of what nature does by itself.
According to Haggstrom, Hillsdale College highlights the necessity of conserving the Earth.
“If we’re striving to be the best people we can be here on campus, and we’re doing that through learning and getting involved, why should we not take care of the Earth that God gifted to us?” Haggstrom said.
Earth Month presents a time for politicians and environmental groups to push agendas however, the Conservation Club at Hillsdale offers a voice and ear to students.
“People are hesitant to ask questions, which is unfortunate because we are not going to fight. We’re just going to talk about it,” VanBerkum said. “It’s OK if you disagree.”
