MHS Earth Group: Rebuilding After COVID Pandemic

1/3/26

By: Alice Brown and Anna Cottirill

MHS has many clubs that allow students to have leadership roles, connecting people from different grades through specific interests. They range from the Chess Club, to the school Newspaper, to the International Club. 

Earth group is a large club at MHS, and in the last few years, it’s changed a lot. This club focuses on reducing food waste by monitoring the compost bins at the end of lunch. Earth Group also organizes school events like Pizza for the People.

After school went remote due to COVID, clubs had a tough time starting back up again. Nothing truly felt normal, as everything was suddenly more strict. People were worried about social distancing and keeping away from anyone who was sick, according to Marie Voisin, who is currently one of the senior representatives leading Earth Group. 

 “When I started at MHS soon after COVID, the club was at a low point. The group was small, we had little focus on composting and clean play initiatives, and we held only a few events," Voisin said.

Since numbers have grown, the club now has a chance to focus on composting, clean plate club, and school events. Every day, Earth Club members take out the compost that was produced that day. Students also hand out tickets to those who have clean plates after lunch, prizes are drawn and there is a winner every two weeks. This club is mainly student-led and members of the club take great responsibility in the maintenance of compost, according to sophomore Lucy Copans, a member of the Earth Club.

“This year, we're putting previous events and daily tasks into action, while keeping an open mind to new opportunities.” Voisin said. 

Earth Group organizes some of the school's biggest events of the year, including Pizza for the People and a Climate Rally in the spring. The climate rally is organized in collaboration with the Vermont Youth Lobby. This takes place in the spring, and climate focused clubs and members from schools from all around Vermont come together to march down to the capital building. It’s a really great chance for youth to talk about environmental issues and climate change together. 

“I think it’s definitely a good time,” said Copans. She added that, “There’s always opportunity to be more active.”

Earth Group is positively impacting the MHS school community, while empowering student leadership.