Chatham's Lafayette School Climate Club Takes Students From Microscopes To River Cleanups

CHATHAM, NJ — Third and fourth graders at Lafayette School in Chatham spent the school year studying climate change, examining algae under microscopes and cleaning up litter along the Passaic River as part of the school's first Climate Club.

The club was founded by Jennifer Cifrodella, a library media specialist at Lafayette, after she attended New Jersey Climate Change Learning Collaborative workshops over two summers. The program is funded through a Ramapo College grant from the New Jersey Department of Education.

"Throughout the year, students explored climate change concepts connected to New Jersey and the Passaic River region," Cifrodella said. "Through hands-on experiments and shared learning activities, club members built an understanding of the causes and impacts of climate change in their own communities."

Cifrodella leads the club alongside teacher Erin Wessling.

Students took a walking field trip to the Great Swamp, where Hazel England, outreach and education director for the Great Swamp Watershed Association, guided them through topographical maps of the Passaic River and lessons on flooding, water quality and river conservation.

Club members also produced environmental infomercials that aired on the school's morning announcements, teaching classmates about climate change, conservation and everyday actions to help the environment.

In May, the club partnered with the Great Swamp Watershed Association and Roots & Shoots for its first Passaic River cleanup at Shepard Kollock Park, held in honor of conservationist Jane Goodall. Students volunteered on a Saturday morning to collect litter and protect local wildlife habitats.

Rutgers environmental scientist Danielle Delp visited the club to share her research on dioxin contamination in the Passaic River. Students learned about the Love Canal environmental disaster and how toxic chemicals affected communities for decades before examining algae samples from local ponds under microscopes.

Representatives from The Land Conservancy of New Jersey and Chatham's Environmental Commission also met with the club.

Looking ahead, Cifrodella and England are scheduled to present this fall to educators across New Jersey on building climate clubs in schools statewide. The club is also hoping to secure continued Rutgers funding to support environmental research and education

Have a correction or news tip? Email sarah.salvadore@patch.com