NEW CONSERVATION CLUB

Each year Mt. Hood offers a variety of clubs to fit diverse student interests, some of which students might not be aware. And new this Fall Term is a Conservation Club, starting from scratch.

Troy Builta, the administrative adviser for the group, has been trying for a long period of time to get the college to approve a Conservation Club. Last year he was able to convince officials and help create the club, with its goal to increase awareness and educate the MHCC community on taking care of the planet.

Second-year student Bobbie Hill, who plans to soon enter Mt. Hood’s fisheries program, is the club president. She said her role is to get students excited about conservation and to “educate people on the need to start saving Mother Earth, because tomorrow might be too late.”

One of the biggest goals the Conservation Club has set is to reduce Mt. Hood’s garbage output by 30 percent. Builta, Hill, and the club plan on reaching their target by raising enough money to remove several campus garbage cans and add more recycling bins in every department.

A big achievement both leaders already are proud of is their involvement in the EcoChallenge. Some students may have already seen posters around the Mt. Hood campus and an explanation of how to get involved in the challenge, organized by the Portland-based Northwest Earth Institute.

The EcoChallenge is a contest schools, businesses and other organizations all over the world are invited to join. Teams of individuals, including MHCC employees and students who make up the “Sustainable Saints,” sign up and create a fast profile, including their school and school email. They then may begin to accept and complete conservation-minded challenges, which are rather broad and can be easy to complete.

Challenges include carpooling; using reusable water bottles; banning plastic straws; not letting tap water run for too long: The list can go on for a while, but students have the choice to choose the ones they believe they can accomplish.

Builta said, “At the end of the day, we hope that after students finish a challenge they are able to make it into a (personal )habit without even noticing.”

MHCC has won the EcoChallenge the last two years, and as of Tuesday was ranked 11th out of 825 teams competing. This record is something all Mt Hood students and staff can be proud of, and help to build: This year’s contest ends Oct. 24.

As for joining the Conservation Club, anyone interested may sign up. All students must do is go to the Student Union front desk and ask for Hill or Builta. If neither is available, students can leave a note with their contact information so they can be reached.

Builta said he plans for club meetings to be held every first and third Thursday of each month, 2-3 p.m. downstairs in the Facilities Management department conference room, but hours are not yet confirmed.

For any questions about the club, contact [email protected].