GREEN Leaders Student Summit Celebrates a Year of Student-Led Action in the Watershed
On May 22, Upper Thames River Conservation Authority (UTRCA) Education and Partnership staff welcomed 16 Grade 7 and 8 classes from across the Upper Thames watershed to Huron University for the annual GREEN Leaders Student Summit — a celebration of student curiosity, environmental action, and community connection.
The GREEN Leaders program is a year-long, inquiry-based environmental education initiative that challenges students to investigate local watershed issues and develop real, research-backed action projects. The Summit is the culmination of that work: a chance for students to share what they've learned, hear from community experts, and connect with peers from schools across the region.
This year's Summit featured a refreshed format designed to put students front and centre, with each class presenting their year-long projects and answering questions from a panel of community experts. Topics were as wide-ranging as the watershed itself — from microplastics and aquatic invasive species to bat habitat, Lake Erie health, and "forever chemicals." The projects also stood out for their real-world impact: students took action through community events, tree and wildflower planting, art projects, and habitat creation, partnering with groups and organizations across the region to bring their ideas to life.
Between presentation blocks, students rotated through three engaging stations: a live wildlife presentation from Salthaven Wildlife Rehabilitation and Education Centre, a collaborative Scrabble word competition, and a community art project led by graduate students from Western University's Department of Visual Arts.
We were lucky to be joined by our High School GREEN Leaders – students from the Thames Valley District School Board H3ELP Program, who helped facilitate the event and shared their own environmental work — offering younger students an inspiring look at where their GREEN Leaders journey can lead.
The GREEN Leaders program is made possible through the generous support of the Thames Valley District School Board, London District Catholic School Board, Huron Perth Catholic District School Board, and General Motors Canada. Special thanks to Huron University for generously hosting the Summit, as well as Prowind, Oxford Community Energy Cooperative, and Gunn's Hill Limited Partnership, who sponsored this year's event. We also want to extend our sincere gratitude to all participating panelists and the amazing teachers who help make the program happen. The GREEN Leaders program continues to demonstrate that the next generation of watershed stewards is already here — and already at work.
For more photos, visit our Flickr album.