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FCWC
founded the Westchester Environment Student Council (WESC) in
2001 to educate the next generation of environmental leaders.
WESC is an all-Westchester council of high school students dedicated
to preserving the environment, learning effective advocacy skills,
and educating themselves and others. Using its unique position
as the umbrella organization, FCWC is able to bring the expertise
of other environmental groups to assist in projects with
the students. This year the students are focusing on expanding
the
reach of WESC by
attracting new schools in WESC and improving
communication between high school environmental clubs currently
involved in WESC. This development will help school clubs share
information, learn from each other, and participate in each
other's local events.
 WESC
provides a wonderful opportunity for students of all backgrounds
to meet, learn, and work together for the common goal of improving
the environment. As a result, WESC draws students from all over
Westchester County, including the high schools of: Yonkers, New
Rochelle, Ossining, Greenburgh, Mount Vernon, Port Chester, Yorktown,
Mamaroneck, Thornwood, Valhalla, Scarsdale, Harrison, Chappaqua,
Edgemont, Somers, Rye Brook, Brewster and Hastings.
WESC provides
an array of unique opportunities for high school students to
effect change in their communities. WESC's diverse projects and
events attract a colorful collection of students from all ages
and with varied interests. To be sure, students involved in WESC
get a taste of everything. For instance, students have become
involved in publicity and journalism to promote the program.
Student-authored articles concerning WESC are often published
in Westchester Environment (see sidebar).
 Past projects
and events have included:
- Lobbying
in Albany on Earth Day Lobby Day
- Dark sky
astronomical observation
- Performance
of high school environmental audits
- Cleaning
up the Bronx River
- A mock
legislature session where students acted as county legislators
- Working
for greener cleaning products in schools
- Meeting
with NY State Senators
- Water quality
testing
- Invasive
species removal
- Working
with the Boys and Girls Club of Mount Vernon on gardening
 For
more information past events, please see the WESC issue of Westchester
Environment.
This year,
with the indispensable assistance of FCWC, WESC is fostering
relationships with several environmental agencies and organizations
of Westchester in order to provide diverse stewardship opportunities
to students. In addition, WESC continues committed to furthering
the education of students with regard to environmental issues
through presentations and training sessions conducted by knowledgeable
individuals in such fields as energy conservancy and environmental
law. Lastly, WESC still promotes recreational events aimed at
reinforcing a crucial sense of appreciation of the environment
necessary in our efforts to work effectively to achieve legislative
victories.
A survey of
WESC students showed the following:
93% said that
their knowledge of environmental issues increased
90% said their interest in the environment increased
93% said they learned about opportunities for involvement with
the environment
77% said the program helped them improve their advocacy skills
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