NHS environmental club hosts first ever ribbon project to raise awareness ahead of election

In the past few years, Niwot High School's Environmental club has grown in size, but also in civic engagement. Previously, they have gone before the Boulder County commissioners about environmental issues, and they will soon be working on a video project to inform the Niwot community about a proposed fracking site and the potential repercussions of it.

This year, club members were going to participate in the Climate Ribbon Project, which is an international art demonstration with the intention of thinking about climate change. But, with the upcoming election, the environmental club decided to shift gears and instead, ask students why they think voting is important.

"Our inspiration was really wanting to shift the culture of NHS to be more aware of the election and the potential this election has on our future," said NHS senior, Maya Beauvineau. "We thought that it would be an effective way to encourage students at Niwot to vote, to register [and] to recognize the power of their voice."

Empowering her peers, and the community at large is important to Beauvineau. At only 17, she cannot vote in this election, but she and many of her fellow classmates are following the election and what's on the ballot.

"The 2020 election will be a defining moment for the future of many Gen Z'ers" said fellow senior Fiona Nugent. "The next four years will decide how we respond to the climate crisis and if the calls for justice in all forms will be answered. With so many important issues at stake, we need everyone who can vote to do so."

The club was excited about the prospect of hosting this event, but COVID definitely changed the way it was ultimately planned and executed. With the help of social studies teachers, the Environmental Club sent out a Google Form to students for feedback on their thoughts around voting.

According to Beauvineau, they received about 200 digital responses (just under 20% of the student body). Then, on the day scheduled to actually tie the ribbons on the trees outside the high school, the club set up tables with extra ribbons for students, as well as information about voter registration and how to get involved with the election.

Dani Garcia, a freshman, said, "Voting doesn't just affect you, it affects everyone in the now and the future. In every aspect. While we may not be able to vote, we are trying to get you to understand that your vote is important. It can lead to one or another law, president and more. This project helps everyone truly think what voting is and why they are voting. This helps the future voters to also think of why they are going to vote and what for."

Garcia's sentiment reinforces Beauvineau's point about empowering voices and informing the public. That is what makes this project so unique. Even though most of the high school students who participated cannot vote, the club wants to contribute to creating a community culture around the general importance of voting.

"While many high school students are not yet able to vote, we can project our voices and have an impact in other ways," junior Victor Gerber said. "This project was unique in allowing us to use our very inability to vote to show those who can why it is important to use that right."

It can be frustrating to feel as though one's voice doesn't matter, especially when there are reports and commentaries that seem to only reinforce this feeling. So, for there to be 200+ ribbons about why voting is important was a powerful message for the Environmental Club students, and they hope that other community members see that.

"This project is a call to action to the Niwot community," Beauvineau explained. "Although as youth we may not be able to vote, we know this election will have a significant impact on the world, the environment, the economy and the world we will inherit. We ask the Niwot community to vote for us."