Colton, CA—Last Friday, Colton High School was cleaner than ever.

On January 27, the Eco-Friendly Friends Club got together after school to clean the campus and hangout with friends.

The event was organized by Eco-Friendly club president Ashley Galvan. She was excited to get the group together to make sure the campus was clean, especially since there was lots of wind last week, causing trash to pile up.

Members and volunteers split into groups of three and were given supplies to help clean the campus.

Jennifer Puga felt happy to know that she contributed to cleaning the campus. “It felt good to help make the campus look nice and make a difference just by doing something small,” Jennifer said, before adding, “It was also fun doing it with my friends.”

Participants were able to relate their studies in environmental science to the clean up, as well. They learned about the different pollutants, and made connections about how all the trash was polluting the school.

Over 20 students participated in the clean up event. Club members encouraged others to join by putting flyers in classes and reaching out to the school’s pathways programs for any people that needed community service.

This event was instrumental in helping the Eco-Friendly Club achieve its purpose, which is “To bring awareness to the people of the issues and how to help the earth.”

During meetings, club members engage by reusing things such as cardboard and plastic to make projects. The club is starting a new project called “Eco Bricks,” in which the plastic and trash they get from the cleanup will be used to make a variety of objects, like lenses.

Galvan encourages club members, volunteers, and Colton High students to learn to always pick up after themselves because “the environment isn’t going to get any better if we don’t take care of it.”

The Eco-Friendly Friends Club meets on Tuesdays after school in room 463.