She may be a 21-year-old freshman at Carroll College, but Crystine Miller has been around long enough to tell stories that sound remarkably similar to those told at the bingo parlor on Friday nights.

"I remember staying home from school for several days in a row because there was so much snow," said Miller, a Lewistown native. "Now, of course, that doesn't happen. The winters aren't quite as harsh or snowy as they used to be."

Miller is a member of Carroll's newest student club -- Saints for a Healthy Climate. The group is an extension of Montanans for a Healthy Climate and joins two other chapters in the state, at the University of Montana and Montana State.

"Our focus is more concentrated on what we can do at Carroll to reduce our impacts on the local, state and global climate," Miller said. "We are planning to start with small educational things here at Carroll."

Growing up on a farm, Miller knows firsthand the consequences that warming temperatures can have on agricultural growers.

While she can't change the weather, she does hope to create awareness on a local level. That, she believes, will make a difference down the road.

"Having a focused idea is a good place to start," she said. "On campus, it's not this broad idea -- how do we start? What do we do? We can pick out specific things that will make us more carbon neutral."

Among them, Miller said, the club wants Carroll to cover its swimming pool. Uncovered, she says, the pool wastes energy used to heat the water.

The school could also consider more energy efficient lighting, she said, or install a biomass heating system.

"Things like that are concrete and you can see tangible results," she said. "We have a lot of interested people and eager students. I think the students are pretty aware and eager to get the ball rolling. They really want to make those changes."

Diego Rivas, a member of Montanans for a Healthy Climate, said the group's campaign for change is gaining strength.

Along with his peers, Rivas is pushing for a federal cap on carbon emissions. He's also looking to raise awareness on global warming and the impacts it has on the state.

March has warmed from an average of 29 degrees to 33 degrees over the past 40 years, Rivas said. Snowmelt retreats earlier in the season, leaving rivers lower during summer.

Over the long run, that leads to decreased farm production and soil depletion. It also stresses habitat, including Montana's fisheries -- hurting a sport that brings millions of dollars into the state and supports thousands of jobs.

"Montana's fate over the next century depends on our ability to recognize the problem and take the lead in addressing it," Rivas said. "Climate change is not only a global problem -- it's a Montana problem."

Rivas said that while the issue has been brewing for decades, it's only now hitting home with the general public.

Headlines in Montana newspapers over the past year have given the issue more ink. Environmental advocates like Al Gore have helped raise public awareness.

"Students are the catalyst for change," Rivas said. "Our goal is to get the younger crowd going. They're passionate about the issue and they're keen on finding solutions to the issue."

Reporter Martin Kidston can be reached at 447-4086, or at mkidston@helenair.com