DAVENPORT, Iowa (KWQC) – A group of Davenport North High School students are doing their part to help the community.

The school’s environmental club, the Green Team, is leading efforts to help our environment.

Seeing the impact on Mother Earth and the Mississippi River is making them take action.

“I was fishing in the Mississippi River, and I just saw all of those plastic and trash all over the place, and it’s like, I gotta do something about this. Something’s got to change,” said Noah Hurtado, a freshman.

They gather to clean up, recycle, or work on their school’s rain garden every Wednesday.

They also educate others on how to care for the world around them.

“If I see someone not putting certain things, like recycling in recycling and trash in trash, I will say something,” said Ki’mya Scott, a freshman.

The club’s mission is to make a difference in the world with collective individual actions.

“I think the most rewarding thing is splitting it up instead of ending in a landfill,” said Tyree Williams, a junior.

They also hope to teach others that each of us has an impact on the environment.

“Every time we meet, we talk about ways to change our behaviors and maybe improve things in the neighborhood, our school, and our community,” said Laura McCreery, Science Teacher.

“It’s a team effort, and that’s what you learn with the Green Team because it’s a group effort. Not just one person can make a difference if not everyone else helps,” said Aarison Barnett, a senior.

The Green Team also partners with conservationists around the Quad Cities, such as Living Lands and Water.

The group will wrap trees during the Living Lands and Water event, preparing them for nationwide distribution and planting.

Estefanía Pinto Ruiz is the water, ag & environment reporter for KWQC TV6 News and The Mississippi River Basin Ag & Water Desk. She is also a Report for America corps member.

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