Gaia is an extracurricular high school group of Ascension Collegiate, Bay Roberts, Newfoundland and Labrador, made up of 9 students and one teacher coordinator. In the spirit of 'Gaia' , James Lovelock's theory of survival, the group mission is to contribute to the well-being of the planet and their motto is "See a need and take the lead!". They are busily involved in the following activities:

1. The Shearstown Estuary Project.

- Gaia has proposed to purchase a waste treatment system to replace the school septic tank to clean the effluent water that is presently contaminating the Shearstown estuary (an internationally recognized wetlands conservation area and bird sanctury). - approx. $250 000 project. Eighteen businesses in the community have donated $37 000 of in kind services or products to the project. The town of Bay Roberts has agreed to sponsor Gaia to fund raising agencies as a partner in obtaining funds to bring the project to fruition.
- cleanup of the Spaniard's Bay and estuary on an annual basis. This past year, Gaia organized 125 Ascension students in the pick up of 100 orange lawn bags of garbage on the estuarial shore, and has over 150 students presently registered for this year's event (May 9,2005).

2. Naturalization project

A plan (students and community expertise) has been drawn up to make the student grounds more student friendly, and increase the biodiversity of plants and animals surrounding the school. Where there is now dirt and pavement , there will be trees, shrubs, picnic tables, a greenhouse, a water feature and an amphitheater. The business community was approached to donate products or services to benefit the projects. - ($20 000 project)

3. Mentoring project

Gaia members have visited the 3 feeder schools in the area to deliver a power point presentation aimed at encouraging the junior high students to create their own environmental groups and projects. They provided each school with an binder of organizational tips on how to operate efficiently. This year, on May2,10,& 11, Gaia is adapting the presentation for primary and elementary grades, inviting students to become environmental stewards and encouraging teachers to incorporate various environmental lessons, games and activities into their curricula. Gaia is also organizing a workshop on Project Wild and Below Zero (through Salmonier nature park) for teachers in the feeder schools.

4. Schoolyard cleanup

Gaia partners with the school athletic director in the spring to organize a school yard cleanup operation. They encourage members of the sports teams and other extracurricular groups to participate to promote environmental stewardship of the property, increase student awareness of the garbage problem, and hopefully create an attitude to change student behaviour.

4. School curricula - Gaia has and is injecting environmental awareness materials into a number of courses: Math, Environmental Science, Biology, Art, Science 1206., through presentations and supplemental field trip work or activities.

Future plans include the organization of an environmental conference / workshop for groups like themselves, the development of the Shearstown estuary and bird sanctury as a tourist attraction and education centre, and hopefully involvement in the Avalon waste management strategy activities.

Awards:

1. On May 12, 2003, Gaia received an award for Environmental Stewardship from Mr. Bob O'Brien, director and founder of Ocean Net. The award was given to recognize volunteerism, stewardship and support of Ocean Net's conservation programs and initiatives for 2002. The ceremony was sponsored by Ocean Net, Wildlife Habitat Canada and The East Coast Trail Association.

2. Gaia also received honorable mention at the Newfoundland and Labrador Environmental Award ceremony, also held at the Fluvarium in St. John' s on June 2, 2003. The event was sponsored by the NL Dept. of Environment, NL Women's Institutes and the Multimaterials Stewardship Board. The group had been nominated three times for the Youth category and was praised for their project efforts. Gaia was presented the award by Mr. Bob Mercer, Minister of the Dept. of the Environment.

3. Gaia received the Newfoundland and Labrador Award in the Youth group category in June 2004, at the Geocentre, St. John's, NL.The event was sponsored by the NL Dept. of Environment, NL Women's Institutes and the Multimaterials Stewardship Board.

Gaia has received much media coverage for their project work; The Compass and The Telegram have printed several articles, the local Community cable channel focused on the group for two shows and Gaia received national coverage on Country Canada, a piece of which aired on Newfoundland's CBC.

Please consider this very worthy group in your Green Team Challenge award competition. Thank you.