ANTIOCH — It's new, but Earth Club is coming out strong — and hoping others will follow suit.

The Black Diamond Middle School group formed earlier this year, and is set to make a big splash with its community cleanup day on Saturday.

Together with the city of Antioch, the middle school co-hosts the event from 8 a.m. to noon along the canal from Prewett Family Park to Slatten Ranch. Those interested should meet at Prewett Family Park, 4701 Lone Tree Way.

The club started its quest last year while several members were fifth-graders at Antioch's Carmen Dragon Elementary. Once at middle school, they continued their efforts by setting up a new club there.

Since then, the newly formed nine-member Black Diamond group has been busy with recycling and preparing for the big cleanup day. Under the direction of teacher Wendy Watrous, the group is also collecting Frito-Lay chip bags and Capri sun drink pouches for the TerraCycle program, which pays the group for each item. The company, in turn, recycles them to make other items, such as messenger bags. Another moneymaker: selling CFL light bulbs for $2.

"It's a way to promote energy-efficiency," Watrous says.

The group has other projects in the works for later this year but, for now, the focus is on the cleanup day.

"But, we also plan to help clean up the school, community and educate about the environment," Watrous says.

The sixth-grade math and earth

"It started as part of the students' project and ended up as a wonderful way of working together with the local community in order to keep the Antioch waterways clean," Watrous said. "It's important to have clean waterways for the protection of all of the species that rely on the creeks and Delta."

In addition to Antioch, sponsors include Allied Waste Management, Home Depot, Wal-Mart and Starbucks. The group is also accepting any donations for the event.

If you join the fun on Saturday, wear sturdy shoes and bring work gloves, food and drinks. All participants much have a signed release of liability waiver found at sites.google.com/site/bdmsearthclub. And all those under 12 must be accompanied by an adult.

The cleanup day is part of the students' project for the annual Lexus Eco-Challenge to empower youth to take action to help the environment. Cash prizes — $10,000 each to the top 16 — will be awarded for the most successful teams, their schools and teachers/advisers.

Cleanup volunteers will also get a chance to win some prizes in a raffle that day. For more information or to donate to the cause, call 925-776-5500.