The Jasper Sustainability Club for Youth is hoping locals, young and old, will duke it out for its second annual tree-growing contest.
The club is inviting people to come to Jasper Junior/Senior High School鈥檚 (JJSHS) foyer on Dec. 2 between 12-3 p.m. to purchase their very own tree seedling for $10. Once the tiny tree has been acquired, it鈥檚 up to the buyer to care for it during the long winter months.
Then at the end of May or the beginning of June鈥攖he date hasn鈥檛 been decided yet鈥攑articipants are invited back to the school to have their tree measured. Those with the tallest trees will win prizes donated by local businesses.
鈥淵ou can basically do whatever you want鈥攚ater them, fertilize them, whatever you think will help grow your seedling the fastest,鈥� said Grade 8 student and club member, Nalani Gruys.
鈥淲e tried fertilizing ours last year, but it ended up dying so it just depends what works.
鈥淵ou can experiment however you want.鈥�
Once all the trees have been returned in the spring, the club will plant them just south of Hinton鈥攖he same place they planted them last year.
Last year they had about 50 participants for the club鈥檚 inaugural contest. Nalani and her sister Keandra Gruys, who is also a member of the club, would like to see more people take part this year.
鈥淚 think it鈥檚 just important for everyone to get involved with sustainability projects,鈥� Keandra said. 鈥淚f we don鈥檛 start doing our part then we won鈥檛 have a world in the future.鈥�
The fundraiser was originally created to raise money for a self-sustaining classroom known as a SEED classroom. However, Chad Krayenhoff, the teacher responsible for the sustainability club, said the project was supposed to be built by an American company, but since the Canadian dollar dropped, Krayenhoff said the project no longer seems feasible.
鈥淚t鈥檚 just out of reach now,鈥� said Krayenhoff, adding that the club hasn鈥檛 been able to find a Canadian company that specializes in sustainable classrooms.
Instead the group will start focusing on other projects like creating more compost options at the school and a rooftop garden.
鈥淲e want to have a place where students can sit and be engaged with nature,鈥� Keandra said.
Those interested in the tree growing contest can pick up a $10 seedling in the JJSHS foyer on Dec. 2 from 12-3 p.m.
鈥淲e just started asking for donations, but we鈥檙e hoping to have some really great prizes,鈥� Krayenhoff said. 鈥淲e鈥檙e really hoping to attract younger students this year.鈥� 聽
The contest is open to the whole community.
For more information about the contest, contact Krayenhoff at [email protected].
Kayla Byrne [email protected]
