GREEN Leaders Program Underway and Seeking Panelists for Student Summit

This year’s UTRCA GREEN Leaders program is well underway, with 16 Grade 7/8 classes from across the watershed participating. Student teams have now selected the environmental issues they want to tackle, with topics ranging from microplastics and fish species at risk, to declining bat populations, “forever chemicals”, aquatic invasive species, and overall Lake Erie health.

Classes are currently in the policy and practice research stage, where students are reaching out to local partners and community experts to learn more about their environmental issue, explore what’s already being done to help, and identify gaps and opportunities for action. From there, each class will work toward designing and implementing a realistic, meaningful project that they can accomplish within the school year—one that helps create positive change for the Thames River watershed and beyond. 

To wrap up the year, all the participating classes will come together at the GREEN Student Summit to share their projects, celebrate their efforts, and reflect on what they learned through the process, from research and collaboration to taking real-world environmental action. 

If you’ve been involved in a GREEN Leaders project in the past—or if you’re interested in supporting student-led environmental action—we’ll soon be looking for community partners to participate in the Student Summit as panelists. Panelists will have the opportunity to listen to student presentations, offer constructive feedback, and share next steps, ideas, and inspiration as students continue their journeys as GREEN Leaders. If you’re interested in being involved, please reach out to learn more about the event and panelist roles. 

Contact: Karlee Flear, Community Education Coordinator