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The trio began the adventure in Vancouver in February. They have crossed the United States and will continue through Africa, Europe and Asia, all without a single stop at a gas station.

The purpose of the project is to raise awareness of possibilities for recycling and reusing vegetable oil as fuel and to exchange ideas on alternative energy.

Sandy Spring Friends School students are familiar with the concept; most of the school’s bus fleet runs on biodiesel fuel.

The students also maintain an energy garden, where they grow sunflowers, harvest their seeds, and press them for oil to help fuel their buses.

Stephanie Thliveris, a middle school science teacher, helped to bring the Biodiesel Adventure to the school.

‘‘You can’t teach this in a classroom — this is real life,” she said. ‘‘It ties in with the Quaker belief of Earth consciousness, but also into our curriculum, as well.”

The Biodiesel Adventure team members talked about their journey and some of the obstacles they have faced.

It takes 24 to 48 hours to make one batch of fuel, which yields about 10 gallons, or enough fuel for approximately 200 miles. So team members have to plan carefully, since refueling is a lot more complicated than stopping at a gas station.

Along their journey, they said, they have met many supporters who have encouraged them to visit other cities and events to show off their project.

One of the team’s goals was to attend the Earth Day festivities on the National Mall just before Earth Day; the stop at Sandy Spring Friends School was added to the itinerary.

With Murata interpreting, Yamada and Ito explained that they are not scientists or engineers, but instead are ‘‘regular people,” and encouraged students to follow their dreams.

They explained how they were originally told that biodiesel fuel is usually made in large factories, and that it would be impossible to fit the equipment in the back of a car.

‘‘I was told this was outrageous, but it was a dream of mine,” Yamada said. ‘‘Now it is an actual thing taking shape. Isn’t it amazing?”

Craig Vincent, an eighth grade student, said the visit taught him how easy it is to make a change and to make things better.

‘‘The fact that they are doing this is just amazing,” he said.

Vincent said he recently attended an environmental conference in North Carolina, where he shared some of the environmentally conscious projects Sandy Spring Friends School is doing.

‘‘I came back and shared with the school the things that I had learned, he said. ‘‘It’s just like how these people are sharing what they are doing with us. I think sharing is the most important part, because it can inspire others.”

Murata said they were impressed with the Sandy Spring Friends students and their knowledge of biodiesel fuel.

‘‘It’s really encouraging,” she said. ‘‘This is good for the Earth, so we want to create little people who grow up knowing this is the way to go. We present this as an adventure because we want kids to know that this is hard, but it is fun, as well,” she added.

Finding vegetable oil fuel

Residents who own diesel automobiles that can run on straight vegetable oil instead of diesel fuel can now find sources of the oil through a new Web-based program atwww.montgomerycountymd.gov⁄veggieoil.

The Vegetable Oil Exchange’s goal is to match up users (drivers) and generators (usually restaurants). By listing themselves on the Web site under ‘‘Oil Offers,” restaurants and other sources that generate used vegetable oil can have their supplies picked up free of charge. The site lists the location, quantity of oil available, the date of the posting and any notes related to the oil.

Drivers looking for sources are listed under ‘‘Oil Requests,” which includes the same information. All exchanges must be free.

For more information, call Rick Dimont at 301-840-2774.

for more

For more information, visit biodieseladventure.com.