Liberty HS is greener than ever this holiday season. Sure, the pine trees and wreaths out front certainly contribute to Liberty’s greenness; however, the establishment of Liberty’s environmental club, Greater Responsibilities Among Students for Sustainability (or G.R.A.S.S.) will impact the environment-and the school-in a huge way. Though the club is just beginning to start up, it is attended by around 20-25 people each week with numbers growing as the year progresses.

G.R.A.S.S. is a multifaceted club that includes both community service work and outings. As the weather has not been great since the start of the club in mid-October, all outings so far have been postponed due to rain or cold temperatures. In the springtime, members and their adviser, Robert Andreucci, will likely go on some hikes on the Appalachian or Monocacy trails as well as learn more about wildlife at places such as Hawk Mountain.

The club has many service projects in mind. Because the club was founded with the intent of enhancing Liberty’s mediocre recycling program, integrating recycling into students’ everyday lives is one of the main projects that was undertaken. Though Liberty does have many recycling cans, members’ research has indicated that most are improperly used as if they were trash cans. To remedy this problem, G.R.A.S.S. members are organizing fundraisers to get the money to purchase new recycling bins with slots for cans, bottles and papers so that students will easily be able to differentiate between trash and recycling cans. Initially, they will be placed in high-traffic areas around the school; the goal, however, is to eventually replace all of Liberty’s old, unlidded cans with foolproof slotted ones.

Members will also be planting trees in the springtime. The first will be a tree that the Class of 2015 intended to plant as a class gift but never had the time to do so. The tree, a dawn redwood, will mostly likely be placed in the open lot behind the marquis on the intersection of Linden Street, Elizabeth Avenue and Easton Avenue. Other trees will be planted around the campuses of all Bethlehem Area School District schools with the help of respective students, which will help spread environmental awareness to students of all ages and interests.

The success of these projects can likely be predicted by the great success of a smaller project G.R.A.S.S. members recently undertook: building bat houses. Jack Polentes, a Liberty junior, hosted around 10 members at his house and taught them how to cut and assemble wood to make eight bat houses. These wooden structures provide a safe place for bats live in the midst of rampant habitat destruction.

Though G.R.A.S.S. is in its infancy, the club shows promise as being a way for students of all grades and backgrounds to share their passion for making Liberty-and the world-a healthier, more environmentally-conscious place. As the club continues to gain awareness, members, and funding, it is becoming clear that Liberty students are going to accomplish some outstanding things through their membership.