Survey Says
by Westglen Earth Patrols — Westglen Elementary School, Edmonton, AB
February 2010 — The Grade 6 Earth Patrols have been working for years in the school and the community promoting different environment action projects. They decided to do a survey to find out what the environmental concerns were and what the level of commitment towards that environment was. After modifying a survey from a Scholastic Environment Report Card, they set out to get their answers.
Earth Patrols went from classroom to classroom to explain the survey to students and staff. The surveys were sent home with the youngest student in each family. As the surveys came in, the students were rewarded with an Earth sticker. The Earth Patrols interviewed the staff members face to face. They got more information from that type of interview and enjoyed the format. Therefore they wanted to go and do more face to face interviews.
Westglen School is located close to 124 St Business Area in Edmonton and the two have always had a great relationship. The Earth Patrol decided to head over and complete more face to face surveys to find out what people in nearby businesses felt about the environment. The majority of the people were more than willing to not only share their answers but expand upon them as well. Merchants were pleased to see young people who were concerned about the environment. City TV (reporter Amanda Ferguson and shooter/Associate Producer Reid Wilkins) followed the Earth Patrols for about an hour during the afternoon and later shared the project on their news show.
In total 91 families, 15 staff and 25 business people were interviewed. Tallying the results was an interesting job as the Earth Patrols were able to confirm or adjust their assumptions. The totals were put in a table and then the data was transferred into pie graphs.
Each Earth Patrol was given a pie graph to “analyze” and write what trend they saw, what it meant to them and finally what action should be taken. They were happy to see that most people felt that responsibility for the environment was “my generation’s” job and that over 70% of people thought climate change was an extremely huge concern. Over 60% of people said they would do more than shop with reusable bags; they would strive to have energy efficient homes.
The results of the survey were shared in the school newsletter, with the 124 St Business Association and on a display on the Earth Patrol Board in the hallway. In general the Earth Patrols were pleased with the results of the survey and realized that the Westglen Community values their work and is committed.
Earth Patrol’s Environmental Survey Results
We did 131 surveys and think the results are interesting and encouraging. Westglen is a very green community. Come see our display at school and check out the results below. Thanks to everyone who took the time to share their opinions.
1. Who are you? |
|
Westglen Family |
70% |
Westglen Staff |
11% |
Work on 124 St. |
19% |
2. How good a job are you doing? |
|
Great |
22% |
OK |
68% |
Needs Improvement |
9% |
Awful |
1% |
3. In 10 years, what will you be doing to help the environment? |
|
Hybrid Car |
21% |
Vegetable Garden |
15% |
Energy efficient home/business |
49% |
Shop with reusable bags |
15% |
4. What are you willing to do to stop global warming? |
|
Nothing |
2% |
Recycle bottles and cans |
3% |
Recycle and change some habits |
69% |
Whatever it takes |
26% |
5. How important is global climate change? |
|
Extremely |
56% |
Just a concern |
35% |
Don’t know enough about it |
7% |
Not important at all |
2% |
6. What are you willing to do to reduce trash? |
|
Recycle |
51% |
Use less one use products |
19% |
Start composting |
8% |
Donate items you don’t need |
22% |
7. What would you be willing to do for the environment? |
|
Volunteer and raise awareness |
8% |
Recycle all paper, plastic & cans |
38% |
Turn off appliances–when not in use |
53% |
Nothing — it doesn’t matter |
1% |
8. The environment is whose responsibility? |
|
Mostly government |
14% |
Mostly scientists |
6% |
Mostly my parents generation |
11% |
Mostly my generation |
69% |
9. How important are issues about water? |
|
Extremely |
64% |
A concern |
27% |
I don’t know enough |
9% |
Not important at all |
0% |
10. In the future will environmental problems be better or worse? |
|
Better — science will find a way |
22% |
Better — people will change |
57% |
Worse-people don’t care enough |
17% |
No change — its too late |
4% |
