Biology, SOS clubs clean Gilmore Creek

Participating in the April 29 clean-up are, from left: Collin Nienhaus, Shauna Stevens, Clinton Nienhaus and John O’Neill.

Participating in the Nov. 29 clean up are, from left: Brittany Friedrich, Paige Nellis, Clinton Nienhaus, Danielle Patterson, Collin Nienhaus, Jimmy Boggia, and John O’Neill. Not pictured: Shauna Stephens and Peter Borash.

This article was written by Collin Nienhaus, a member of the Biology and SOS clubs.

On Nov. 29, members of Biology and SOS (Students Organizing Sustainability) clubs got a chance to enjoy the unseasonably warm weather while helping to beautify campus at the same time. Students spent an hour walking in and along Gilmore Creek from the Yon’s footpath bridge to Residencia Santiago Miller, picking up garbage along the way as part of their commitment to the Minnesota DNR’s Adopt-a-River Program.

Last semester, the Biology Club enrolled in the program, which is similar to its more well-known highway cousin. An organization makes a two-year minimum commitment to do at least one clean-up annually of a section of a stream they select. Since its inception, the Adopt-a-River program has seen 76 million pounds of trash removed from Minnesota’s waterways. On this particular afternoon, nine SMU students added over 100 pounds to that total.

The most frequently collected type of litter was beverage bottles, but the students also found soap, cardboard boxes, and even a tire. Last April, the group also gathered about 100 pounds of junk during the inaugural clean-up, including 30 feet of snow fence and large chunks of metal.

This event was just one of many ways these two clubs try to help out the local environment. Biology Club puts on “Buff the Bluff” twice a year, an event where students walk the trails through the bluffs and pick up litter. SOS Club does their part too, having recently placed recycling posters on bins around campus to help raise awareness about the recycling. Additionally, members of both clubs participate in “Make-a-Difference Day” and “Spruce Up Winona,” where students participate in a variety of volunteer activities.

This fall, members of both clubs worked with local community members by participating in the “Great Mississippi River Revival.” Aside from these activities, Biology Club, a mainstay on campus for many years, offers many other opportunities for students to get enjoyable and valuable experience in a variety of biology-related activities. SOS Club, which was started last year, hopes to work on gaining a presence on campus and informing the Saint Mary’s community about important issues concerning sustainability.