Project Polar Bear isn’t just about the bears, it’s about the world. Our team, called Witchazel’s Thoughts, hopes to lower the carbon emissions from schools and businesses in Hillsboro and the surrounding area in Oregon. Our main focus is a school shut down over the winter break. The goal is to unplug everything, from computers to pencil sharpeners, turn down the thermostats and water heaters, and let the school sit for the break. This could save an amazing amount of money for the schools, and if the principals of the two main schools we’ll be focused on, Liberty High School in Hillsboro and, the we are hoping to extend the idea into the district, saving even more money and conserving more energy. The way we are going to do this is by talking to the principals and officials of our schools and informing them that they can save thousands of dollars and help the environment at the same time. We will also suggest switching (if they haven’t already) to energy-efficient light bulbs, and turning off all unnecessary lights and computers at night. One problem that might crop up with the school shut down is that the principals might be worried that they don’t have the manpower to be able to turn everything off and then back on. Our solution to this is that we could have sign-ups for students that are willing to volunteer their time, and receive volunteer hours for their contribution. (Many high schools require volunteer hours for graduation.) Our team will be contacting a local Home Depot to see if they would be willing to donate any energy-efficient light bulbs to our cause.
 Another large project we hope to achieve is a mural in Liberty High School. We hope to create a nature-themed mural in the school, painted with donated paint from students and recycled paint from MetroPaint, a 100% recycled latex paint made in Portland Oregon by Metro, the elected regional government of the Portland area. Students from Liberty and possibly other schools will be able to participate in the making of the mural, which will allow our team to raise awareness about carbon emissions, and our fight to save the polar bears. Not to mention raising school spirit and beautifying the school!