The students that have been paying attention to their surroundings the past few weeks have probably noticed an influx of brightly colored rocks peeking out from under bushes and beneath trees. The painted rocks are hidden throughout the courtyard of the school, each bearing the word ‘Unless.’

The rocks were painted by Eco Audit and Environmental Systems students and inspired by Dr. Seuss’s “The Lorax.”  The word ‘Unless’ comes from the little peanut-shaped environmentalist as he protests the cutting down of the truffula trees with the well-known quote, “Unless someone like you cares a whole awful lot, nothing is going to get better, it’s not.”

“That’s the final thing that’s said in the Lorax,” environmental science teacher Shannon McPherson said.

The Lorax’s parting phrase is meant to leave a lasting effect on the audience, prompting them to rethink their environmental impact, which is the same effect the Unless rocks are meant to have, according to McPherson.  

“The purpose is to get people talking about the environment,” McPherson said. “They put them all around campus so people would talk about them.”

Doc shares her passion about the environment with her students with projects like this. The students who made the rocks continue to learn about the significance behind ‘Unless’ along with the problems facing our environment.

“Doc showed us a video about the Lorax, and it was really inspirational to her and she wanted to share it with us,” senior Eco Audit student, Megan Hamma said. “Unless we start making changes on the campus nothing is going to to change for the future.”

McPherson also sponsors two CPHS clubs dedicated to helping the environment, Environmental Club and Timberwolves for Timberwolves, and is the maintainer of the organic garden near the English hall. She is no stranger to the environment and its protection and said she hopes to get others involved in preserving the planet.

“That was the main goal, to spread the word,” McPherson said.