After-school club teaches energy conservation and more

Raleigh, N.C. — Some Raleigh fifth-graders give up their afternoons to learn about energy conservation in a club that's going strong after a decade.

Teacher Amy Constant has led the Energy Savers club at Fox Road Elementary for about 10 years. After school hours, students do activities that teach them about conserving energy and resources.

"It's just amazing how many kids are excited to be involved," Constant said.

In November, students collected plastic bags and then spent one afternoon coming up with creative uses for them.

"Our room, for a while, looked like a plastic bag had exploded. We got lots of them," Constant said.

Alton Gayton crocheted the old plastic bags to make a new bag dispenser, while Kammie Wilson created some Christmas cheer.

"We decided to use them and make wreaths for the month of Christmas," Kammie said.

Energy Savers members also patrol the school for water leaks. When they find leaks, they tell custodians.

"We are saving now 2 gallons of water a day per student with the patrol," Constant said.

The best lessons that club members learn are values that will take them far in life – such as one college sophomore who volunteers at her old elementary school club, Constant said.

"With this leadership and responsibility and respect, all the character traits that are brought in, it's just amazing how these children grow," the teacher said.