This year, Roots and Shoots has more on the agenda than ever before, such as a possible aquaponics system and a green wall, according to adviser Al Wachutka.

According to Wachutka, an environmental club is nothing new at Park, but only recently has it shifted from a political club to an active club that encourages students to take action in their community regarding environmental concerns.

The club has only grown since the shift, gaining more members each year and working toward the goal of helping students live a healthy, eco-conscious life.

In the past few years, the club achieved several feats, such as integrating composting into the cafeteria, according to Wachutka. Junior Owen Geier said composting in the cafeteria was difficult, but in the end he was pleased with the accomplishment of the club.

“I was proud of the fact that we composted the whole year even though that was a pain,” Geier said.

Wachutka said he encourages club members to come up with innovative ideas and lead on their own, instead of him telling them what to do. According to Wachutka, senior Mack Trotter was a main advocate for building a green wall.

“Last year we were trying to get money to build a green wall but we just didn’t get far enough before the year ended,” Wachutka said. “It’s kind of been a baby of Mack Trotter’s. He’d like to do that.”

Geier, a member of Roots and Shoots since he was a freshman, said he has big ambitions for the club.

“We started planning a green wall or aquaponics system in school which is sort of becoming a more relevant and possible idea now,” Geier said.

An aquaponics system is a system that combines raising aquatic animals such as fish as well as the cultivation of plants in water, according to Geier.

This summer, Geier said he had an internship with Spark Y, an organization that provides sustainable education to youth in the metro area.

Geier said he wants to find a way to integrate Spark Y’s programming into the science curriculum at Park.

“This summer, I’ve done an internship with Spark Y, and they actually build aquaponics systems and sell them to schools, then create a curriculum that they can integrate into the science department,” Geier said. “I’ve been trying to collaborate with Spark Y to get them into St. Louis Park.”

According to Wachutka, Geier’s dream could become a reality for Roots and Shoots.

“Last week I spoke to Owen Geier, and he wants to build and have available somewhere in the school an aquaponics set up where we’ll grow veggies of some kind,” Wachutka said. “We might get some parts from Spark Y, things that they’re not using anymore and kind of piece something together.”