Number of Participants: 35
Hours Donated: 17
Value of Time Served: $20,700
Organization / Team: Andover High School
Event Type: Environment
Activity: Club
School: Andover High School
Date: December 15, 2026
Location:
2115 andover blvd NW
,
About:
This past fall, the Andover Leo Club leadership team came together to establish their yearly service project theme. After discussing questions such as “What issues matter most to you?”, “How would you like the world to be different?”, and “What are the biggest challenges in our school?”, the team landed on sustainability. After researching the issue and exploring the root causes of environment problems, they created committees to focus on specific projects, including improving Andover’s recycling program, increasing recycling education for the student body, building middle school and elementary partnerships, holding a Sustainability Week, and leading a Reduce, Reuse, Recycle Toy Drive.
This winter, student volunteers partnered with Anoka County Resource Solutions to improve the school’s recycling program. After receiving a $1,549 grant from the county, recycling bins were placed alongside trash bins in every classroom, locker area, and entryway, along with clear signage to help educate students and staff about proper recycling. To educate staff and students, Leo members presented at a staff meeting, communicated with teachers about the project’s goals, created and shared a recycling awareness video, hosted a Kahoot trivia game during lunches, and organized a Sustainability Week with daily themes.
A main focus of this work has been reducing contamination in the recycling bins. When non-recyclable items are placed in recycling bins, this causes entire loads to be discarded in the trash. The club has emphasized the message: “When in doubt, throw it out,” and has set a goal of reaching 10% or less contamination in the school’s recycling.
The Leo Club has also worked to spread its impact beyond the high school. Members visited Oakview Middle School to share their recycling initiative, teaching students through activities like Recycling Pictionary. As a result, Oakview students created posters to promote proper recycling throughout their school. The club also partnered with Crooked Lake Elementary and Andover High School’s National Honor Society to host a “Toy Give Away.” Together, students collected over 400 gently used toys, promoting the message of reducing waste through reuse. The toys were given away for free at Crooked Lake’s Art Showcase Night.
Later this spring, the club has several projects planned to continue to spread the message. A second recycling video will be shown during Advisory, and another student-led Kahoot will provide reminders on proper recycling. One Leo member has also created a children’s book about recycling, which will be printed and given to Andover elementary students.
Additionally, Leo members will visit eight third-grade classrooms at Andover Elementary to read about the importance of recycling and discuss ways younger students can help care for the environment. Students will also make seed bombs using native wildflower seeds to support local pollinators.
At an upcoming Leo Club meeting, guest speakers from Chowgirls, a Minnesota-based catering company known for its sustainable practices will be speaking. As one of the first “green” caterers in the state, they aim to reduce environmental impact and educate others about sustainable choices.
Later this spring, the club will partner with the county again to measure the success of their recycling efforts. During this process, every recycling bin in the school will be collected and sorted. By weighing the contents, students will determine the level of contamination and determine progress toward their goal. Students will also participate in a field trip to Coon Rapids Dam, where they will help remove invasive buckthorn along the Mississippi River.
To celebrate Earth Day, Leo members will distribute reusable produce bags, pollinator seeds, recycling keychains, recycling reminders, and Kind Lips chapstick during lunch, encouraging students to make environmentally friendly choices and promote kindness toward both people and the planet.
The Leadership team took a simple idea from a brainstorming session—that sustainability matters—and turned it into something students can take action on every single day. It just takes one walk around the halls of Andover High School, and the product of their recycling efforts is highly visible. From improving recycling habits in the building to working with younger students in the district, these efforts are helping create change. Students are not only learning what it means to be environmentally responsible, but they are also encouraging others to do the same. The projects they have carried out have a lasting impact; building awareness, creating new habits, and empowering students to make a difference in their school and community.
