PAPER PREPPING. Nathan Warren and Mark Wenzel sort through reams of paper that Leslie Holvey (standing) has collected from Chesaning High School classrooms and offices. Although the students don't earn any money for their paper recycling efforts, they know their work is protecting the environment. (TCC photo by Carol Somers)

Students in Gail Boswell's pre-vocational job skills class spent an hour each day collecting, cleaning, sorting and packaging papers, plastic bags, bottles and cans. The recycling program aims to help students gain life and vocational skills as they prepare to enter the working world as young adults.

Each student is responsible for a different facet of the project.

First, Leslie Holvey makes the rounds of the school, collecting reams of paper from each classroom and office. Once Mark Wenzel has removed staples and paper clips, Nathan Warren steps up as the designated paper shredder.

"You have to work together, just like a regular job," Nathan explained.

That flair for teamwork will come in handy when some of the students begin attending sessions at Saginaw Vocational Rehabilitation Services (SVRS Industries), where they will get more job training, skill assessment and school-to-work transition support.

The eco-friendly assembly line keeps moving for a full hour, although Boswell isn't sure how many pounds of paper and pop cans pass through the makeshift recycling center in her classroom.

"But imagine how much paper a school generates," she laughed, "and how many bottles of water and cans of pop students go through in a day."

High school students and staff drop their plastic bottles and cans in bins the class has placed throughout the school. Dustin Amman cheerfully mans the bottle and can cleaning station, despite its reputation as the messiest department.

"Some people throw their chocolate milk into the barrels, and then it really stinks! It's a mess sometimes," he said.

Another team member has literally created a greener scene at the school. Jacob Kellogg has used his natural landscaping talents to transform the high school's courtyard from weedy to wonderful in a few short months. He revitalized the park-like setting with new plants, mulch, borders and regular weeding and mowing with an old-fashioned push mower.

Although fundraising isn't the students' main goal - "our focus is doing what's good for the Earth," said Boswell- the money earned through bottle deposits is a welcome bonus. Last month, nine pre-vocational job skills students were able to take a two-day trip to Mackinac Island thanks to the recycling refunds and other small classroom fundraisers.

Boswell and another adult chaperone accompanied the group on visits to Fort Michilimackinac, the Mackinac Bridge, Historic Mill Creek and other northern Michigan attractions.

Students take pride in the fact that they're keeping their school community clean while protecting the environment one bottle at a time.

"Yeah, it feels good. I recycle everything now. I walk down the road and pick up cans," said Kellogg.