Wetlands Kids

Environmental Activists, West Geauga Local Schools

Sometimes a step in the right direction turns into a stampede. When a group of school friends learned that over 90% of Ohio’s wetlands have been lost, they decided to form a Wetlands Education Team (WET). To help osprey recover from declining habitat, they erected nesting platforms. They built three Outdoor Classrooms so the rest of the school could learn about native plants and local wetlands. They began a recycling program and–appalled at the number of bottles collected–promoted reusable water bottles. They lobbied politicians about wetlands preservation, made presentations to over 6,000 citizens, got more than 25 other schools involved, and raised over $78,000 in grants, bonds, and awards for the their projects—including a presidential award.

Step-by-step, these students have demonstrated a new model of cooperative education and a more sustainable

“These students have demonstrated a new model of cooperative education and a more sustainable way to live.”

Pictured Above:
Shawn Cooper
Zak Kucera
Clay McMullen
Kelli Wright