Solar ovens fuel change

NORTH ADAMS - Conte Middle School is cooking up change.

The school's seventh-graders and teacher Peg Winslow, who presented at the recent Youth Environmental Summit, are continuing to use their solar oven project to make a difference.

A solar oven is a cooking device made of cardboard and aluminum foil that is fueled by sunlight. It can cook at temperatures to almost 400 degrees Fahrenheit.

The students have recently demonstrated cooking apples, nachos and s'mores at the summit, the Berkshire Museum, and the Center for Ecological Technology's recent Junior Solar Sprint.

Solar ovens are said to be clean, non-polluting and fairly easy on the environment. A basic model costs about $8.

In the past two weeks, Conte has raised enough money to send 15 ovens to various villages in Africa through a nonprofit organization called Solar Cookers International.

Conte Middle School is continuing to collect donations to purchase and distribute more solar ovens.

To donate, send a check payable to Conte Middle School and address it to Solar Oven Project, c/o Conte Middle School, 24 Church St., North Adams, MA 01247.

To learn more about Solar Cookers International, visit solarcookers.org.