Saving the World, One Poster at a Time

Rye Middle School and the Rye Nature Center have teamed up to celebrate Earth Day and raise awareness about global warming, with a poster contest. The contest is the brainchild of RMS seventh grader Sophie Hessekiel and Rye Nature Center Director Russ Johnson. Sophie, 12, is a volunteer at the Nature Center and wanted to do something relating to global warming as her "mitzvah", community service for her upcoming Bat mitzvah. Johnson suggested a poster contest and told Sophie the Nature Center would sponsor it.

Sophie's interest in stopping global warming stems from a science class in which she learned about the effects of generations of abuse to the earth. "In 10 years, the damage will be unchangeable," she said. "That scared me and I wanted to do something. I also love art, so I wanted to find a way to combine art and global warming awareness."

She approached RMS art teachers with her idea and gave them fact sheets she compiled on global warming. The teachers read the fact sheets to their students and told them about the competition. Those who were interested were given class time to create posters. Entries were received both at the Middle School and at the Nature Center. The judging took place April 13. The winners will be announced at the April 22 Earth Day celebration at the Nature Center, where many of the posters will be featured in a month-long exhibit.