By Josh Hall (Twitter: @Vancan19)

Sawing for Schools at Central Middle set for Ellen and Vegas

Apr 12, 2018 | 5:11 PM

A group of students at Central Middle School are about to go on the field trip of a lifetime.

Eight students, to be exact, will be travelling to Calgary on April 21 to attend ‘A Conversation With Ellen’ featuring Ellen DeGeneres, before jet-setting to Vegas from April 29 to May 4.

The group is part of the Sawing for Schools club, an after-hours program for students interested in woodworking, building using re-purposed trees, and other environmental learning projects.

Shawn Moore, Owner of Trimmed Line Tree Services and Sawing for Schools, explains that while in Vegas, the kids will attend the indoor Ag-Con show to learn about indoor agriculture and vertical farming. They plan to meet with two companies which offer the materials needed to build an outdoor classroom at Central, the funding for which will hopefully come from their application to the Co-op Community Spaces grant program.

“We believe this type of farming is perfect for our students for a number of reasons. First, they can grow during the school year, September to June, typically when traditional growing is not possible,” Moore says.

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“Second are the advantages of a controlled environment. Third, the new technology of indoor farming products is a perfect project learning based platform that is relevant to today’s sustainable and local food environment.”

Moore says the system uses 90 per cent less water and zero pesticides, thereby producing healthier food.

Where everybody’s favourite dancing talk-show host comes in is her passion for unique furniture, according to Moore. Students are currently constructing a custom coffee table out of repurposed wood which bears Ellen’s name in the middle.

The club has reached out to Ellen’s team and has tickets to her Calgary show, so they figured why not try and create a piece she could use on her set. They are also trying to grab her attention by using social media.

“With Ellen and Vegas and what we’re doing, there’s a bigger picture,” says Moore. “We have four core values that we call the four Rs: Removing the tree, Recycling the tree, Rebuilding with it, and then Replanting, which is the biggest and most important component as it relates to longevity and sustainability.”

Funding for the trip comes from the sale of tables and other pieces built by the Sawing for Schools club.

Meanwhile, Sawing for Schools is celebrating student Bridget Allen, who is nominated for a Women of Excellence award in the Environment category.