Keeping up with SNAIL ...

by Petra Todorovich and Amanda Edmonds

... is harder than you might think. This high school environmental club is charging ahead.

A group of environmentalists from 13 St. Louis high schools, founded Snail in February 1995. Snail aims to raise awareness of environmental issues through student leadership, volunteer work, and activism in schools, community and the world. In 1995-96, Snail was led by Petra Todorovich from John Burroughs School and Amanda Edmonds from University City High School.

In February 1995, my environmental club at John Burroughs School hosted a conference for St. Louis-area high school students. The group decided to continue meeting once a month, and these monthly meetings grew into the organization of Snail. Our organization is completely student-run, with no teacher or parent involvement. - Petra

Our first project was to put together a display for 1995 Earth Day. We launched a campaign to coincide with Earth Day at all the high schools participating in Snail. Students educated themselves on the issues and took this information to the meetings. Then we planned creative ways of presenting this information with opportunities to act - such as letter-writing campaigns. Five high schools in the St. Louis area ran campaigns. This was our first effort, and it provided the basis for activities to come. - Petra

By the next Earth Day, we built displays for the Earth Day Festival in St. Louis' Tower Grove Park. We had worked on storm drain stenciling, suburban sprawl and other projects. People of all ages and backgrounds were drawn to the drum circle in front of our booth. They danced and clapped with the drums, and explored our photoboard displays, posters and a large, wooden, painted snail with a cut-out hole for a person's face (a special attraction for kids.) Many people inquired about our organization and what we were about. - Amanda

We have dedicated hours to planting and gardening work at the greenhouse in Forest Park. We organized a well-attended benefit concert toward efforts to protect the Cove/Mallard roadless area in Idaho from logging. We stenciled more than 300 storm drains in Clayton and University City with the message, "Dump No Waste, Drains to Stream." This was part of a clean water campaign to educate residents about not dumping pollutants down storm drains. - Petra

The enthusiasm at our general meetings is like no other group I have been part of. We average 40 people at any meeting, but have had anywhere from 30 to 70. Meeting locations rotate to allow students at the hosting school a chance to run the meeting. Our group is led by an elected executive board, but anyone may take on responsibility in the club. Many students have grown to take on leadership roles in Snail that they would not at their own schools. - Amanda

Of all the people I have met, friendships I have formed and experiences I have had in Snail, the most valuable thing I have learned is an awareness of an environmental community in St. Louis and around the nation. I have extended my contacts to a larger network of environmentalists around Missouri who are doing things in many environmental arenas. And the environmental community in St. Louis is beginning to recognize Snail as a new force. - Amanda

We were asked to participate in the April 24th "Show Me MO Green" environmental lobby day. The Missouri Coalition for the Environment organized people from 16 groups around the state to go to Jefferson City. We chased down senators and representatives to discuss issues. To catch a legislator in his or her office was rare, but when we did, I was surprised by how much they listened and were responsive. After all, as an 18-year-old, I am officially their constituent, and my vote weighs equally to any other. It was an empowering experience. But the most exciting part of the day was when Petra and I spoke in front of an enthusiastic crowd in the rotunda of the state capitol. As several people told me later, the students' presence was definitely felt. - Amanda

Some people say that young people are apathetic, but I disagree. When one looks at the environmental movement in St. Louis, it is impressive that students are involved, but it is also essential. As young people, we have the energy to spread the message of environmentalism, the time to make changes and the responsibility of inheriting the planet.

Our group is founded on this principle of responsibility. That's where the name "Snail" comes from. A snail can be described as a muscle that carries its home on its back. We as students carry the world on our shoulders. - Petra

Snail represents students from John Burroughs School, Clayton High School, University City High School, Ladue Horton Watkins High School, St. Joseph's Academy, Mary Institute Country Day School, Priory, Parkway Central High School, Parkway North High School, Parkway South High School, Nerinx Hall High School, Webster Groves High School and Whitfield.

Petra is now a student at Vassar College and Amanda attends the University of Michigan-School of Natural Resources.