It is never too early to start going green. Students from Guilford Lakes Green Patrol, a group that works to promote environmental awareness within the community, took a trip to the state capitol on March 16 to share with legislators their work and talk about what more can be done for the Guilford environment.

Green Team was founded by Sue Ireland with a band of like-minded Guilford Lakes parents in 2008 including Blandina Orce, De Popkin, Pam Neleber, Jackie Fix, Kristin Jones, Kathy Cimino, Linda Westgard, Carole Rand, Melissa Shaw, and Gina Iasparra. The Green Patrol (GP), the kids’ group, was founded in 2009 and is now led by parents Ireland and Pam Medvecky.

Ireland said the goal of the group, comprised of elementary students, is to teach students about environmental and recycling issues and “show these young people how their awareness and actions can make a difference for our planet”.

So far, the group, which has more than 150 students, has worked to help implement the Guilford Public Schools’ first recycling program and their accomplishments continue to grow.

After “learning more about how styrofoam does not biodegrade, they decided a change was needed,” said Medvecky. “A group of GP kids spoke to the Board of Education and asked for the elimination of styrofoam districtwide. The district honored their request making Guilford the second school system in Connecticut to accomplish this goal.”

To commend the student’s accomplishments and continuing work, State Representative Sean Scanlon (D-98), after meeting with the students last spring, invited the group to visit the capitol and sit in on a meeting of the Environment Committee.

Ireland said the students were amazed and inspired by their visit.

“They were awed by the grandeur of the buildings and the busy pace lawmakers keep,” she said. “They felt like VIPs on their behind-the-scenes tour with Rep. Scanlon.”

Students were introduced by Environment Committee Chair State Senator Ted Kennedy, Jr. (D-12), who spoke with the students about their goals for the group.

“You are never too young to become an environmental crusader,” Kennedy stated. “We could all learn from this talented group of young environmentalists. After learning of their early successes in Guilford Public Schools, I was very eager to speak with the students about the need to cut down on plastic waste.”

Ireland said the students were able to learn a lot to take back to Guilford.

“They came away seeing how issues will only get the attention they need if people speak up and make sure their voices are heard,” she said. “They saw clearly that lawmakers care what towns think, but also got a glimpse of how hard it is for an issue to be-come a bill and for a bill to become a law.”

While much of the day focused on environmental issues, Medvecky said the students were able to take away many diverse lessons.

“The girls immediately noticed how few women legislators there were and said how great it would be to fill one of these seats one day themselves,” she said.

Both Madvecky and Ireland agreed the day was a great influence on the students and showed them how important their voices can be.

“They learned that even though they are kids, the fact that they care and they are willing to speak up makes them valued,” they said.