Students in kindergarten to grade eight at Ethel Milliken School in Regina, Saskatchewan, are actively involved in the school's numerous environmental projects. The pupils have a great deal to be proud of.

A year ago, a grade three class applied for a grant to build songbird houses. When the grant was approved, the class built 30 songbird houses last year and an additional 20 this year. The students placed the houses outside of the city and later returned to find them all occupied.

One of the school's biggest, ongoing projects is its recycling program. Ethel Milliken recycles more newspaper than any other school in Regina, approximately 200-300 newspapers per month! The students also recycle aluminum cans and cardboard.

Students also arrange and participate in eco-events such as "Green Lunches". On these days, everyone brings in an earth-friendly lunch, with plastic lunch and juice containers instead of juice boxes or sandwich wrappers.

Every fall, senior students do something to help clean-up the creek near the school. They collect whatever garbage and debris has been tossed in and dispose of it or recycle it whenever possible. One year the students brought back a bicycle!

With countless projects on the agenda, the students at Ethel Milliken are showing continued interest in the environment. Says teacher, Vern Johnston: "The projects at our school are not spectacular or extraordinary. We don't see everything as a project. Taking care of our environment is basically our lifestyle."