UWSP to host High School Environmental and Energy Action Conference

High school students from across the state may attend the 1999 High School Environmental and Energy Action Conference at the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point on Wednesday, April 28, from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.

"Energy! Experience the Power" is the theme of the conference, which brings together students involved in environmental groups, teachers and others interested in environmental issues. The conference will highlight local and global energy issues, showcase student projects and provide participants with the opportunity to build some of the skills necessary to solve environmental dilemmas.

"It’s an excellent opportunity for students and teachers to see what other high school students are doing and to get ideas for their own groups," said conference organizer Emily Ciffone, a UWSP graduate student. "They can also meet people and see what professional organization could help them in their cause."

Registration at 8 a.m. will be followed by the keynote speaker ,Pat Arndt, at 9 a.m. A teacher at Berlin High School, Arndt and students from the high school’s Environmental Crusaders Acting for Earth Preservation Club will discuss "The Ghost of Electrical Past."

Three sessions will be held during the day, featuring student group presentations about rainforest biodiversity, Solar Olympics, the MREA Sun Chaser, Environthon, water education and the reefs and rainforests of Belize. Also attending the conference will be representatives from the Peace Corps, the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, Intra-State Recycling and Wisconsin Public Service.

Drawings will be held for door prizes and entertainment by musician Alice Di Micele will close the conference.

Registrations, due by April 1, are $10 per participant or $20 if ordering a conference
T-shirt. Funds may be available through Eisenhower grants. Please make checks payable to WCEE and send to High School Conference, 403 LRC, UWSP, Stevens Point, WI 54481. Those with questions may contact conference coordinators Bonnie Koop or Emily Ciffone at
(715) 346-4320 or send email to ekoop976@uwsp.edu or eciff451@uwsp.edu.

The conference is sponsored by Wisconsin Center for Environmental Education, a nonprofit organization dedicated to environmental education programs for K-12 teachers and students, and Energy Center of Wisconsin, a private nonprofit organization dedicated to improving energy efficiency.