PLATTSBURGH -- Students in Nancy Steadman's fourth-grade class at Oak Street Elementary School participated in a multi-leveled educational experience recently to help Mountain Lake PBS reduce global warming.

A copy of the Dr. Seuss book "The Lorax," which deals with environmental issues, was provided by the station for the students to read, then the fourth-graders wrote the next chapter as a literacy project from curriculum suggested by Mountain Lake's Outreach and Education Director Jane Owens. Students also designed a T-shirt with a message that encourages protection of the environment, wearing them to plant trees to promote the "Going Green" theme.

The project was part of Mountain Lake's effort to partner with area schools, helping students become stewards of the earth's environment. Owens serves as the facilitator to area schools and community service organizations to help bring awareness and activism to the North Country.

"The Going Green with Mountain Lake PBS' outreach projects address three themes: global awareness, learning and innovation skills, and technology skills. The project promotes awareness of global warming and what can be done on a local level to teach students about the problem and communicate this information to the community," she said in a press-release.

Mountain Lake PBS began the initiative based on a partnership with Tree Canada, an organization embarking on a program to plant trees across Canada, as highlighted in its documentary "Places of Green," which aired on the public television station's channel.

"One way we are partnering locally in going green is by planting trees in communities. Because trees absorb CO2 and produce oxygen, planting them helps to reduce global warming," said Owens, "and being a leader in local initiatives serves our not-for-profit mission to inform, educate, involve and entertain."

Karen McCarthy, Oak Street School's Learn and Serve coordinator, helped to organize the project at the school level.

"Oak Street Elementary School is really excited to be a part of Mountain Lake's Going Green' initiative," she said in the release. "The students are learning about global warming, its effects on the earth's atmosphere and what each of them can do to help."

More than 100 Stafford Middle School students and teachers also partnered with Mountain Lake PBS. Science students either planted trees or created environmental Public Service Announcements (PSAs), some of which will be aired during a segment of the station's weekly public affairs series Mountain Lake Journal. Bryan Gottlob coordinated the project in conjunction with the station's outreach and education director and worked with students to assist them in shooting and editing their PSAs.

Dr. Christopher Martine, biological sciences professor at Plattsburgh State, served as the mentor to both school projects. Martine was a guest in the Mountain Lake PBS studio when "Places" of Green aired, and he has been actively involved in environmental education and tree planting activities with area students.