Service Project
An annual requirement for NHS chapters and members involves the planning and participation in one or more service projects that make an impact on the community.
Fall 2012/Spring 2013:
For the 2012-2013 school year, we will have service projects for each semester. The first, in the Fall semester, is to continue helping CHEC in whatever way we can and this will take place in December. In the Spring semester, we will be doing another service project, which is have a blood drive. The Big Red Bus will not be located at ECHS-Charlotte but rather at the college since they already do a blood drive. We will gather students that are willing to donate blood and walk them over. Any students under the age of 17 will need a parent consent form. We will also being have a guest speaker for drug prevention and we will be making a welcome video for incoming freshmen.
Spring 2012:
For the 2011-2012 school year, the ECHS-Charlotte Chapter made efforts to assist the Charlotte Harbor Environmental Center (CHEC), a local environmental non-profit established in 1987 that is dedicated to the promotion of conservation, protection, and preservation for today and future generations. Located here in Punta Gorda, just minutes from our very campus, CHEC provided a feasible and productive opportunity for us to fulfill not just a requirement but a need as well.
We met at 9:00 the morning of Saturday, June 16th to begin our contribution. The main focus of the day was invasive species removal and control, mainly involving the Brazilian Pepper trees. As many realize, these trees are a particular nuisance and produce distinct red berries giving them the nickname of the Florida Holly. With branch clippers in hand, we scoured the trails of the conservation center, effectively removing the trees and ensuring they did not return by spraying the roots and stumps with the appropriate herbicide. By 12:30, we finished our route and removed well over 100 Brazilian Peppers of varying sizes (some quite large!).
Along the way we learned about the plethora of different flora and fauna in the area. Although alligators inhabit the area, we were fortunate not to cross any of their paths despite stumbling upon their tracks in the mud. Along with the knowledge of our CHEC guide, our adviser Mr. Schmidt exercised his ornithological expertise and made clear the distinction between the observed Lubber grasshopper and the locust that once devastated the Rocky Mountain States such as Colorado. Overall, the Service Project was just as much a lesson on the area and its inhabitants as it was a service commitment.
A Message from our NHS President:
"I would like to thank not only the NHS members who were able to attend but also Charlotte Harbor Environmental Center, its members and volunteers for allowing us to work with them, and our Chapter Adviser Mr. Schmidt for orchestrating the event."
"A special thank you to Jim Thomson for not only hosting us at CHEC but greatly assisting with the service project and providing the utmost hospitality! We hope to work more with Jim and develop an even greater partnership with CHEC in the future!
~ Jordan Russell, NHS President 2012-2013
Fall 2012/Spring 2013:
For the 2012-2013 school year, we will have service projects for each semester. The first, in the Fall semester, is to continue helping CHEC in whatever way we can and this will take place in December. In the Spring semester, we will be doing another service project, which is have a blood drive. The Big Red Bus will not be located at ECHS-Charlotte but rather at the college since they already do a blood drive. We will gather students that are willing to donate blood and walk them over. Any students under the age of 17 will need a parent consent form. We will also being have a guest speaker for drug prevention and we will be making a welcome video for incoming freshmen.
Spring 2012:
For the 2011-2012 school year, the ECHS-Charlotte Chapter made efforts to assist the Charlotte Harbor Environmental Center (CHEC), a local environmental non-profit established in 1987 that is dedicated to the promotion of conservation, protection, and preservation for today and future generations. Located here in Punta Gorda, just minutes from our very campus, CHEC provided a feasible and productive opportunity for us to fulfill not just a requirement but a need as well.
We met at 9:00 the morning of Saturday, June 16th to begin our contribution. The main focus of the day was invasive species removal and control, mainly involving the Brazilian Pepper trees. As many realize, these trees are a particular nuisance and produce distinct red berries giving them the nickname of the Florida Holly. With branch clippers in hand, we scoured the trails of the conservation center, effectively removing the trees and ensuring they did not return by spraying the roots and stumps with the appropriate herbicide. By 12:30, we finished our route and removed well over 100 Brazilian Peppers of varying sizes (some quite large!).
Along the way we learned about the plethora of different flora and fauna in the area. Although alligators inhabit the area, we were fortunate not to cross any of their paths despite stumbling upon their tracks in the mud. Along with the knowledge of our CHEC guide, our adviser Mr. Schmidt exercised his ornithological expertise and made clear the distinction between the observed Lubber grasshopper and the locust that once devastated the Rocky Mountain States such as Colorado. Overall, the Service Project was just as much a lesson on the area and its inhabitants as it was a service commitment.
A Message from our NHS President:
"I would like to thank not only the NHS members who were able to attend but also Charlotte Harbor Environmental Center, its members and volunteers for allowing us to work with them, and our Chapter Adviser Mr. Schmidt for orchestrating the event."
"A special thank you to Jim Thomson for not only hosting us at CHEC but greatly assisting with the service project and providing the utmost hospitality! We hope to work more with Jim and develop an even greater partnership with CHEC in the future!
~ Jordan Russell, NHS President 2012-2013