Although they are still struggling to get on their feet, members of the Ames chapter of the Sierra Club are trying to spread their environmental message to residents.

“Our goal is to help people understand nature,” said Peggy Murdock, coordinator of the Ames Area Sierrans. “We don’t have outings yet, but we are helping people learn about the environment, current issues affecting the environment and how each individual can do something about those issues.”

Murdock said she saw a definite need for an additional branch of the organization last year, and in September, she formed a local chapter of the national environmental club that now has 438 members. The closest Sierra Club chapter before that was in Des Moines.

Murdock said she attributed the relatively large number of members in the organization to the academic climate in Ames.

“Ames is a special community, with the university and everything,” she said.

Despite already having more than 400 members, Murdock said there are not yet many students involved in the Ames Area Sierrans.

“We need more students involved,” she said. “The input of the young people is so valuable. You’re still young and idealistic, and you’re learning all of the time. We need that fresh perspective.”

Michelle Olsen, senior in animal ecology, said she thoroughly enjoys being part of the Ames chapter of the Sierra Club.

“I was very active [in the Sierra Club] before I came to ISU, and the benefits are amazing. In Sioux City, we had a great sense of community, and it’s great to know that other people are as interested and concerned about something as you are, that they have the same desire to create changes,” Olsen said.

Olsen said her membership in the club also allowed her to keep up on environmental issues that concerned her.

“The Sierra Club is a great way to find out about current legislation — local, state and federal — and you have the opportunity to act,” she said.

Murdock said the Ames Area Sierrans’ main emphasis so far has been clean water issues, but members have looked at other aspects of the environment.

“We have focused primarily on water quality issues, but also of concern are the city flood way program and the expansion of the bottle [deposit] bill,” she said.

The Ames Area Sierrans meet on the second Thursday of every month. Meetings are held at Bethesda Lutheran Church, 1517 Northwestern Ave., and begin at 7:30 p.m. The next meeting will be held March 9 and will focus on nature photography.

Other meetings this spring will feature discussions on alternative agriculture and the Skunk River Navy.