D219’s 4th Annual Environmental Service Day will be held on Saturday, Oct. 11 with science teacher Thomas Jodelka leading the volunteer team.

Volunteers of the event will be helping cut down trees that are harmful to the environment in forest preserves part of the North Branch of the Chicago River. Participants, usually 40-60 people, will leave on buses from Niles North and go to the forest preserves.

“We will remove all the stuff that does not belong there. I think cutting down this stuff is more important because it actually has a lasting impact,” Jodelka said on why the service day is not considered a litter clean up.

Teachers said the event will benefit both the environment and the students.

“I think students have heard about environmental problems their whole school career and this is a chance to actually do something, rather than just talk,” science teacher Chris Barnett said. “We cut [the harmful trees] down, and put it in a bonfire, so it’s fun,” he added.

Students also think that the event will be productive and fun for them.

“I think it’ll be fun! You can meet new people and spend time with previous friends in a much more effective and productive manner,” junior Valerie Chuy said.

The event also works with Jodelka’s AP Environmental Science class. It gets to show the students how invasive species work. “I thought it’ll be perfect to get people out in nature, give back to the community, and it also fits our curriculum, so it’s like a win-win,” Jodelka added.

Students who wants to volunteer can go to url.d219.org/esd and sign up on the form on the website. Today is the deadline to register to volunteer.