‘Green’ education for students

In an effort to educate youths about the importance of environmental sustainability, The Nature Conservancy’s Leaders in Environmental Action for the Future (LEAF) Program sent 52 students to intern at various preserves from Maine to Georgia.
At the 16th Annual Student Awards Ceremony for the LEAF Program on Tuesday, November 9, The Nature Conservancy and its chief sponsor, The Toyota USA Foundation, recognized the students’ efforts and devotion during their paid “green” summer internships.
Students were selected among participating schools with environmental focus from all over the city. One of them was Elmhurst resident Yangtsel Sherap, who is now a junior at High School for Environmental Studies in Manhattan. She was assigned to the Lubberland Creek Preserve in New Hampshire this summer.
“This was an amazing experience,” said Sherap, who is Sherpa, Tibetan and Nepali, but was born in India. “I have learned so much about myself and about team work.”
Sherap said that her team’s assignment was to tear down a small old bridge and build a new one. She was the youngest member of the team and was unable to carry the heavy beams on her own, but was glad that her partners helped her be a valuable member of the team, instead of shunning her.
Sherap had the opportunity to get in touch with nature not only through her work, but also through leisurely activities like horseback riding or canoeing, which also proved a valuable lesson about the ignorance of people.
“I saw those people who were canoeing too, but also were dragging along their beer and food,” Sherap remembered. “We did some clean up, but it was so eye-opening to see those people who probably recycle at home forget everything once in the wild and litter all over.”
The experience made Sherap even more eager to be achieve her dream of working for Doctors Without Borders in India and help those in need, while promoting environmentally sustainable living.
“I realize more and more how important literacy is,” Sherap said. “We need to educate the children, in order to bring about change.”