Back in the Twentieth Century

“Pollute the Sewer… Fish Get Fewer”; was the slogan of my very first Earth Force project. I started that project when I was in the sixth grade at Walnut Creek Middle School. I am now entering my third year of college at the University of Pittsburgh and working as an intern in the Pittsburgh office of Lake Erie-Allegheny Earth Force. I originally joined the Earth Force group at Walnut Creek Middle School because of Ruth Ruud, a sixth grade science teacher at Wattsburg Area Middle School and my mother, Mary Beth Hengelbrok. She thought it would be a “good idea and I’ll like it.” It is hard to admit it, but looking back on the past nine years with Earth Force, my mom was right. I did like it.

From making a difference in my community to connecting school with the real world, it was hard for me not to like it. Some of you who have been involved with Earth Force for a while now might remember the S.E.W.E.R. (Saving Erie’s Water and Environmental Resources) project. I was a part of that project from its storm drain stenciling days back in sixth grade to the pamphlets and billboards to increase the amount of street sweeping in Erie County during eighth grade and beyond. For the newer members to the Earth Force community, you may have heard of the Cigarette Butt Campaign with Jr. PLEWA (Junior Pennsylvania Lake Erie Watershed Association) which I participated in throughout high school. Being involved for so long, I have had the opportunity to experience many different things. I have been to numerous watershed conferences as a participant and presenter such as the National River Rally. I have spoken in front of township supervisors, city council, and the Presque Isle Audubon Society, just to name a few.

I began my young Earth Force experience back in the twentieth century (1998 to be exact) and I would not trade the past nine years for anything. Earth Force helped shape who I am today and who I want to be tomorrow. I am currently at Pitt studying Natural Sciences so I can be an Earth and Space science teacher and an Earth Force educator. Now, I would like to take this time to thank everyone involved in Earth Force from donors to educators to the staff for your hard work and dedication. Without all of you I would not have had any of the life changing experiences or have been inspired to become a teacher and an Earth Force educator. Thank you very much and if I may borrow a few words from Susan Smith, “May the force be with you!”