SPEW. The Society for the Protection of Environmental Welfare. Doesn't sound like a student-led school club, does it? Well, it is no ordinary group of students. Inspired by the leadership of their faculty advisor, Nueva science teacher and former Palo Alto city council member Hillary Freeman, these Nueva students have influenced environmental policy. What started out as an informal gathering of environmentally concerned students has extended environmental stewardship far beyond the borders of Nueva.

In October, 6th-8th graders joined concerned citizens in their effort to convince the SF Utilities Commission (sponsors of the Hetch Hetchy redevelopment project) to invest more in water conservation practices and water conservation education rather than diverting more water from the Tuolumne River to the Bay Area. The river, flowing from the glaciers in Yosemite, experienced a 99% decline in salmon population this year, without any additional water being diverted. Students spoke passionately at the commission meeting, armed with details to defend the integrity of the river. Civic activism, passion, preparation, and good timing aligned and the Commission supported conservation and agreed not to divert water from the river for 25 years. However, the catch is that The Tuolumne Trust needs to train and educate people about conservation.

The Trust was so impressed by the Nueva students, in awe at their poise and professionalism, that they have asked SPEW to spearhead the education initiative for the Bay Area. Each week, at school, students willingly give up their lunch period to work on developing the project. They have working lunches and Hillary guides their efforts. The Trust thought a PowerPoint presentation would be sufficient. That's the old way of thinking. Nueva students, never satisfied to do business as usual, grabbed the initiative and are in the midst of creating a comprehensive web site for educators, in addition to putting together a dynamic presentation for 4th and 5th grade students at schools across the area.

Their site plan hits all of the key buttons -- water calculation, a comic book about the Tuolomne River and how to conserve it, a home survey, a video about the life cycle of the salmon, and they are using online cover flow technology, as well as creating an electronic flip book. The site will also include sample assignments and hands-on activities for teachers to use with students. Of course, the most fun they have had at Nueva is to paint monster faces on the garbage cans to signal to everyone that putting recyclables with garbage is akin to Monsters, Inc.

The best part about this project was the organic way it developed in the hands of students. As the SPEW group brainstormed the beginning stages of the their plans for the school year in September, the students expressed a desire to engage in real world activism. Their teacher jumped at the opportunity and reached out to Peter Drekmeier, Vice Mayor of Palo Alto and Director of the Tuolumne River Trust. Peter came to speak to the students about the problem, and the students took the initiative to figure out a way to make an impact.

This is exactly the kind of collaborative learning that the 21st century demands. The phrase "21st-century skills" is everywhere today in education policy circles, but at Nueva, students live with "a whole new mind." These students are the future change agents of the world.