# data[].attributes.body
Students change their school's composting policy!

# data[].attributes.location_name
Wolcott College Prep, North Wolcott Avenue, Chicago, IL

# data[].attributes.headline
Wolcott College Prep, North Wolcott Avenue, Chicago, IL

# data[].attributes.subject
Wolcott College Prep, North Wolcott Avenue, Chicago, IL

# data[].attributes.body
Working to collaborate with Pest Expert to bring school onboard with non-toxic approaches to pest control in their school.

# data[].attributes.location_name
Countryside School, West Kirby Avenue, Champaign, IL

# data[].attributes.headline
Countryside School, West Kirby Avenue, Champaign, IL

# data[].attributes.subject
Countryside School, West Kirby Avenue, Champaign, IL

# data[].attributes.body
Students are working to address food waste in their school

# data[].attributes.location_name
Countryside School, West Kirby Avenue, Champaign, IL

# data[].attributes.headline
Countryside School, West Kirby Avenue, Champaign, IL

# data[].attributes.subject
Countryside School, West Kirby Avenue, Champaign, IL

# data[].attributes.body
Students working to address recycling on their school campus

# data[].attributes.location_name
Countryside School, West Kirby Avenue, Champaign, IL

# data[].attributes.headline
Countryside School, West Kirby Avenue, Champaign, IL

# data[].attributes.subject
Countryside School, West Kirby Avenue, Champaign, IL

# data[].attributes.body
Students working to address food waste in their community

# data[].attributes.location_name
Murphysboro Middle School, Spruce Street, Murphysboro, IL

# data[].attributes.headline
Murphysboro Middle School, Spruce Street, Murphysboro, IL

# data[].attributes.subject
Murphysboro Middle School, Spruce Street, Murphysboro, IL

# data[].attributes.body
Year 2 of addressing flooding in their community park. This year students are working to add educational signage to their project site and maintain trees that were planted last year by adding protective materials to ensure healthy mature trees are able to continue to grow.

# data[].attributes.location_name
Libertyville High School, West Park Avenue, Libertyville, IL

# data[].attributes.headline
Libertyville High School, West Park Avenue, Libertyville, IL

# data[].attributes.subject
Libertyville High School, West Park Avenue, Libertyville, IL

# data[].attributes.body
ECOS club is working with community stakeholders to address flooding on their school campus

# data[].attributes.location_name
Countryside School, West Kirby Avenue, Champaign, IL

# data[].attributes.headline
Countryside School, West Kirby Avenue, Champaign, IL

# data[].attributes.subject
Countryside School, West Kirby Avenue, Champaign, IL

# data[].attributes.body
Students working to address garbage pollution in their community by asking residents and businesses to adopt self latching dumpsters.

# data[].attributes.location_name
Libertyville High School, West Park Avenue, Libertyville, IL

# data[].attributes.headline
Libertyville High School, West Park Avenue, Libertyville, IL

# data[].attributes.subject
Libertyville High School, West Park Avenue, Libertyville, IL

# data[].attributes.body
Students worked together to grow plants from seedlings to address flooding on their school campus including a rain garden to make room for an outdoor classroom.

# data[].attributes.location_name
Ronan Middle School, Andrew Street Northwest, Ronan, MT

# data[].attributes.headline
Ronan Middle School, Andrew Street Northwest, Ronan, MT

# data[].attributes.subject
Ronan Middle School, Andrew Street Northwest, Ronan, MT

# data[].attributes.body
If you don't like destructive wildfires, then we’re up to help!From 2013 to 2022, there were an average of 61,410 wildfires in the world. In 2022, there were14 wildfires in Montana. From 2013 to 2022, wildfires damaged about 7.2 million acres around the whole world. We lose about 15 billion trees each year and only replant 5 billion of them. That's 10 billion trees lost each year. Planting Trees is important because they produce oxygen that allows us to breathe. They also reduce stormwater runoff, erosion, water pollution, flooding, and provide wildlife with a habitat. All of these benefits will help us have a cleaner and healthier environment for our future.
SolutionCan you imagine a wildfire coming to your house?  What would you do to save your house?  One way is to be prepared for this disaster. Our project idea also concentrates on fuel reduction, as a way to stop fires. Fuel reduction can also serve to help our environment. We would like to stop damage to our land and stop wildfires’ spread.  My focus is in Lake County.  According to Fleury, Cooley, and Gamble are natural hazards to my area are wildfires, floods, earthquakes, landslides, Dam failure, hazardous material spills, and severe winter storms. Major natural hazards are lightning and wildfires.  It will impact my area because it can be hard to breathe and destroy property.  We are working on this project because we want to prevent damage to homes due to wildfires and end the pain caused by them. One of our solutions is taking dead/fallen trees and using controlled fires so the wildfires have less fuel to grow.  Because we are unable to take down trees or do controlled burns ourselves, we would like to expand on the fire fuel reduction kit from the 2022 RMS RISE Challenge.  We have included items to add the fuel reduction kits that were created last year.

# data[].attributes.location_name
Ronan Middle School, Andrew Street Northwest, Ronan, MT

# data[].attributes.headline
Ronan Middle School, Andrew Street Northwest, Ronan, MT

# data[].attributes.subject
Ronan Middle School, Andrew Street Northwest, Ronan, MT

# data[].attributes.body
​We live in the Ronan Community. We live close to the Mission Mountains. There are about 1,955 people in our community. Some major natural hazards that are prevalent in Ronan are, wildfires, floods, winter storms, severe storms, extreme heat and drought, and earthquakes. Our natural hazard is wildfires. Wildfires can cause serious injury, and destruction of ideas like houses and habitats. Wildfires can cause many negative things and even have a serious effect on populations of animals and people. We also chose this natural hazard because in class, we had a jamboard to figure out which topic we wanted to do.  The class voted on several different natural disasters that we researched.
Solution​​Our solution for wildfires is to make a brochure to inform people how to prevent wildfires, how to survive wildfires, a kit for the natural disaster, facts about it, and helping people to be aware about the wildfires. It will work because we will put it into a brochure with places where you can find the specific information that can help them. We will first write it down onto a brochure that we made to see how well it would look together and then print it out. If we want to make some changes, we will put it onto our google doc and fold it into a brochure.

# data[].attributes.location_name
Big Sky High School, South Avenue West, Missoula, MT

# data[].attributes.headline
Big Sky High School, South Avenue West, Missoula, MT

# data[].attributes.subject
Big Sky High School, South Avenue West, Missoula, MT

# data[].attributes.body
In our community avalanches and road safety are a problem. Montana is one of the eight Mountain States susceptible to avalanches more often. In Missoula, road safety is the main concern for the local citizens, and avalanches can play into that. After a heavy snowstorm ice and deep snow can cover the roads, so the snowplowers have to get up early and gravel and plow the roads so the community can access their roads easier. When all of the roads in our town are covered the City and county public works department have to plow our priority roads first, and the neighborhood roads are harder to get to in the day. As a part of Big Sky’s IB Environmental Studies class we decided to make a change and help inform the community on how to stay safe and understand the bad winter conditions. We Have made an informative video and teamed with the City and county Public works department to fully understand the ongoing problems of poor road conditions, and we have made a survey for the public to fill out for us to get data. Avalanches and road conditions are a serious issue and we would love for people to know more about it.
SolutionOur community deals with winter weather often, we want to decrease the amount of crashes that occur because of winter weather affecting road conditions, and make driving in the winter safer. We made an educational video to inform the community about the operations behind plowing roads, and what they could do personally to drive safer. The action we are taking to improve our community is handing out car emergency kits. We will distribute a survey to our entire school and city, asking for their opinions on what needs to be done to improve winter road conditions. To incentivize people to take our survey we entered participants into a raffle to win an emergency kit for their cars. The emergency kit contains a blanket, and other items that would help people in an emergency. We want these kits to prepare people for dangerous situations caused by winter driving.

# data[].attributes.location_name
Glacier High School, Wolfpack Way, Kalispell, MT

# data[].attributes.headline
Glacier High School, Wolfpack Way, Kalispell, MT

# data[].attributes.subject
Glacier High School, Wolfpack Way, Kalispell, MT

# data[].attributes.body
Our unhoused population is very endangered during our harsh winters, and it is horrible, but some even die due to hypothermia. It is very hard to get into warmth and safety quickly when needed. The local warming shelters around Kalispell open and close at a certain time and will stop accepting people at a maximum amount and may not have good resources to hand to them. Multiple businesses around our town will not allow homeless people to come in to warm up, or they may have to purchase something in order to stay there. At this point in their lives it's hard to spare even a penny. SolutionWe are hoping to make kits, held in a drawstring bag, containing; hand warmers, a collapsible water bottle, an emergency sleeping bag, boxer briefs, lip balm, antibiotic ointment, band-aids, gloves, and plastic bags.

# data[].attributes.location_name
Frenchtown Elementary School, Main Street, Frenchtown, MT

# data[].attributes.headline
Frenchtown Elementary School, Main Street, Frenchtown, MT

# data[].attributes.subject
Frenchtown Elementary School, Main Street, Frenchtown, MT

# data[].attributes.body
Flooding can affect our community in multiple ways. Frenchtown Elementary and Intermediate schools have a very unique situation in that we have a 32 acre playground that includes a wetland and riparian zone.  We have a nature trail, outdoor classroom shelter, and observation deck overlooking the marsh and slough that runs through the property.  The playground is used not only by children at recess, but also serves as a community park.  Unfortunately, the heavy use comes with problems such as litter. Flooding can carry any litter along the shore into the water affecting its quality for flora and fauna.
We are a rural community, but there are also neighborhoods and subdivisions scattered throughout.  Most of the houses in our community have private septic systems and wells.  Flooding can affect how these function and the safety of our drinking water.
Our project addressing floods in our community has two main areas.  First, we will clean up the riparian zone in our lower playground to make sure any garbage is cleaned up before flooding can occur. This will ensure that the litter is not carried into the water.  We also observed a lot of thistles and would like to address the outbreak of Canada Thistle near the slough and playground.  Flooding can carry the seeds further and create more of a problem.  We will address this by using handheld GPS units and maps to document the presence and abundance of the thistles.  We will work with the Missoula County Weed District to come up with recommendations for getting rid of the thistles and then present our findings to the Frenchtown School Board, administrators, and maintenance department.
The second part of our project will be community information provided at our annual Science Palooza. We will use an AR Sandbox to demonstrate what flooding can do to the different areas of our community.  We will also demonstrate how flooding can affect wells using the septic model from WEN.  We will have flyers to hand out and also show an emergency water filter.
We feel the palooza is a great place to share information because it is usually attended by 150 to 200 families. We will be able to print the ready.gov/floods website on the bags that are given to each family.

# data[].attributes.location_name
Glacier High School, Wolfpack Way, Kalispell, MT

# data[].attributes.headline
Glacier High School, Wolfpack Way, Kalispell, MT

# data[].attributes.subject
Glacier High School, Wolfpack Way, Kalispell, MT

# data[].attributes.body
Montana is facing an increasing level of uncontrolled wildfires. These fires have disrupted the lives and safety of neighboring communities. Part of the issue is that our forests are being altered at an increasing rate - partly due to the growing population of noxious weeds. These weeds are invasive, meaning that they are not indigenous and are harmful to the other native plants in the area. Invasive weeds thrive in the presence of wildfires. After a forest fire, invasive weeds have a blank canvas to grow before the indigenous plants have a chance to take root. This is a toxic cycle that puts a chokehold on the existence of indigeneity.

# data[].attributes.body
Louisville Middle School’s Pirates for Climate Action are actively working to bring solar power to their school grounds and strive to reduce the impacts of climate change through decarbonization of their school, therefore reducing the frequency and intensity of natural hazards.
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1ZRyFkeDRzVm8MTGi6MiJmz_nLwjmfwsC/view?usp=share_link

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Get access to files anywhere through secure cloud storage and file backup for your photos, videos, files and more with Google Drive.

# data[].attributes.body
A student duo from Rocky Mountain High School went into their community to not only inform their neighbors about defensible space around their property but also offered to help remove excess fuels from their property to help minimize wildfire damage.
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1LHfbj_kAbpapQ-4pyYpUlzK8oRfML93D/view?usp=share_link

# data[].attributes.body
Fort Logan Northgate Middle School Leadership Class picked up where they left off in 2021 to continue the effort to mitigate and recover from flood damage impacting their sports field. By planting trees students increase the green infrastructure of the surrounding area to mitigate the effects from stormwater runoff and flooding, as well as beautify the area that had fallen victim to vandalism.
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1xauuomxWCHW1AlpNstxzI634baZ3gqVO/view?usp=share_link

# data[].attributes.body
Abraham Lincoln High School students decided to develop a resiliency garden to better understand how to grow food under drought conditions. They will maintain this space and use it to empower and educate others in their community.
https://drive.google.com/file/d/18PiBOaxfYLWXFosQKaveLT25YkIygUFU/view?usp=share_link

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Get access to files anywhere through secure cloud storage and file backup for your photos, videos, files and more with Google Drive.

# data[].attributes.body
This group of 10th grade students worked with Denver Audubon Nature Center to address the continued issue of invasive species that threatens native biodiversity. They coordinated a community volunteer opportunity to remove invasive plants, as well as, install a boot brush and signage to bring awareness and prevent the spread of invasive species.
https://drive.google.com/file/d/17PUqykT4XZ0tYjx-K-U9tFt25fa40Ot4/view?usp=share_link

# data[].attributes.body
This 10th grade student group worked with Denver Audubon Nature Center to address a beaver dam that was preventing the flow of water between two ponds negatively impacting hydrology, recreation and education on site. They proposed to install a pond leveler (beaver deceiver) that would reestablish the flow of water.
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1tm85jzyPL9f64c7XWrjPbLVvUcSe5_Dp/view?usp=share_link

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Get access to files anywhere through secure cloud storage and file backup for your photos, videos, files and more with Google Drive.

# data[].attributes.body
The student groups from the St. Vrain Innovation Center that took on not only a large species reintroduction project for Northern Leopard Frogs but also the first to be done for this species. In response to habitat loss and degradation due to wildfire and flood this group strives to ensure the biodiversity of the riparian ecosystem not only in their community but in Colorado as well. This group created the procedure that maintains the biotic habitat factors: aquatic plants and cover to mimic the Leopard Frogs' natural habitat to ensure proper egg and tadpole development.

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1b7zeWfEDP0O0zR63qi5LoRWt8LwaEsbt/view?usp=share_link

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Get access to files anywhere through secure cloud storage and file backup for your photos, videos, files and more with Google Drive.

# data[].attributes.body
The student groups from the St. Vrain Innovation Center that took on not only a large species reintroduction project for Northern Leopard Frogs but also the first to be done for this species. In response to habitat loss and degradation due to wildfire and flood this group strives to ensure the biodiversity of the riparian ecosystem not only in their community but in Colorado as well. This group created the procedure that maintains the abiotic habitat factors: lighting and water quality to mimic the Leopard Frogs' natural habitat to ensure proper egg and tadpole development.

https://drive.google.com/file/d/13Wu7EeQoBoKHdb-ZdhIdsVU88xLWBEAS/view?usp=share_link

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Get access to files anywhere through secure cloud storage and file backup for your photos, videos, files and more with Google Drive.

# data[].attributes.body
The student groups from the St. Vrain Innovation Center took on not only a large species reintroduction project for Northern Leopard Frogs but also the first to be done for this species. In response to habitat loss and degradation due to wildfire and flood this group strives to ensure the biodiversity of the riparian ecosystem not only in their community but in Colorado as well. This group created the feeding procedure and constructed a vertical hydroponic system to ensure the Leopard Frog tadpoles have a sustainable food source until they are released.

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1f3Tj-ST2KN73U6g0v0zc029J6aNwQdwI/view?usp=share_link

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Get access to files anywhere through secure cloud storage and file backup for your photos, videos, files and more with Google Drive.

# data[].attributes.body
Estes Park Middle School Resilience Team built upon their work last year to engage state officials about wildland urban interface codes and building practices that create resilience against wildfire. As well as plant trees and participate in community events that bring awareness to watershed health.

https://drive.google.com/file/d/117YfPdVfm8yg91inkA2iOiAwnl7tFGga/view?usp=share_link

# data[].attributes.body
These students are educating their peers about how to properly recycle, and are expanding the division of their school's recycling bin into more categories to simplify the recycling process on the back end.

# data[].attributes.body
These students plan to distribute "Green fridges", or refridgerators with excess produce from stores like Trader Joe's and Kroger's, around their city to ensure equitable access to fresh fruits and vegetables. Additionally, they are creating an internship program with other students to help manage this system and ensure distribution of donations.

# data[].attributes.body
These students are planning, with assistance from local engineers, to design and build a bike that can chop food scraps and mix them with leaves to be composted in their vermicompost system.

# data[].attributes.body
These students are rebuilding their broken compost bin so that it is functional and can provide healthier soil for their garden.

# data[].attributes.body
These sudents are encouraging local stores to buy produce and meat from the many local farms in the area, and to raise awareness in their community of the benefits of buying local.

# data[].attributes.body
These students created a partnership for change with their CEO in order to recieve healthier school lunches and create a farm to table program. They are also working with their science teacher to add more gardening into the curriculum, and hope to turn gardening into its own elective.

# data[].attributes.body
These students are creating a worm bin and a compost bin for their school. Additionally, one student wrote and illustrated a book to educate people about composting and encourage them to buy local, and he created a partnership with the company Worm Return!

# data[].attributes.body
These students aim to bring fresh food to their community through participating in their local farmer's market by selling produce created in their classroom's aquaponic tank. Keeping produce local also helps reduce gas emissions created by shipping fruits and vegetables across the country.

# data[].attributes.body
These students added aquaponics and aeroponics gardens into their classroom to make the space more green and to grow their own food, helping to combat the food insecurity in Pittsburgh.

# data[].attributes.headline
Organic Garden and Soil Health Action Plan

# data[].attributes.subject
Organic Garden and Soil Health Action Plan

# data[].attributes.body
These students have installed a rain barrel,  are building garden beds and filling them with organic soil, and are planning to build a trellis for a vertical garden to healthier snack alternatives for their community. They are also building an outdoor worm composting system located in close proximity to their garden. They plan to add compost to the tower each day of school and monitor its health through garden circle activities.

# data[].attributes.body
These students did soil testing in their environment to ensure that it was not contaminated, and detected lead in a number of their soil samples.

# data[].attributes.headline
Supplying School Lunches With Locally and Organically Sourced Food

# data[].attributes.subject
Supplying School Lunches With Locally and Organically Sourced Food

# data[].attributes.body
The AHS Garden Club was disappointed by the quality of vegetables served in their school lunches, so they decided to plan out and grow their own garden to provide vegetables.

# data[].attributes.body
These students aare creating a sensory garden for a community of youth with disabilities. A sensory argument will help to calm students, as wellas improving sensory development, learning, and memory, and encouraging language and communication.

# data[].attributes.body
These students are planning a system to distribute the wastewater from their outdoor sink to the garden, in order to water the plants there and prevent the water from going to waste.

# data[].attributes.body
These students are educating their peers about how to compost correctly, as well as growing vegetables to donate to the local church to be handed out to those in need.

# data[].attributes.headline
Creating Composting Infrastructure at Darrow

# data[].attributes.subject
Creating Composting Infrastructure at Darrow

# data[].attributes.body
These students are implementing a vermicomposting solution at their school in order to reduce waste from school lunches

# data[].attributes.body
These students educated their peers about the new California State Organics Law, and conducted a composting workshop to encourage individual initiative and awareness about the law and composting.

# data[].attributes.body
These students educted their peers about the importance of composting, and implemented procdeures for the school kitchen to compost the waste on their end and the students to compost their own food
waste. They also organized weekly pickups by Blue Line composting, thus reducing food waste in their community.

# data[].attributes.body
These students plan to have their school switch from styrofoam trays to reusable trays which can be washed in a dishwasher for school lunches. They convinced their school principal, board of education, and the food service provider to understand the benefits of our plan and to support it whole-heartedly.

# data[].attributes.body
Asa, Jake, Raiden, Boston, and Blair are implementing a community garden at Lime Hollow Nature Center. They were discouraged at first by pushback from officials, but persevered and found a way to have their vision realized regardless.

# data[].attributes.headline
Sustainability Project (Youth Taking on Urban Ag)

# data[].attributes.subject
Sustainability Project (Youth Taking on Urban Ag)

# data[].attributes.body
Devin, Avery, and Leah built a community garden near their school and learned to care for the crops to provide affordable fruits and vegetables for their company. They have also partnered with local minority chefs to educate students about how to create meals with the produce.

# data[].attributes.headline
Addressing Inevitability: Composting for a Healthier Earth

# data[].attributes.subject
Addressing Inevitability: Composting for a Healthier Earth

# data[].attributes.body
Maria learned that 40% of food in the US is wasted and mostly taken to landfills, which has negative effects on our climate, as it leads to a large amount of methane released into the atmosphere through burning. She is coordinating a commercial connection composting program at her high school.

# data[].attributes.body
Rahul learned that school lunches are often high in trans fat, and lack essential vitamins. His goal is to disseminate hydroponic systems in schools that will grow vegetables in-school, in order to provide healthy school lunches to students. He obtained approval from his school administration and they agreed to cover the operation costs of maintaining the hydroponic system. He plans to leverage the success of this hydroponic system to install them at other schools in his county.

# data[].attributes.body
Austin, Dominic, Mark, and Malik learned that urine is a better fertilizer than many that are commercially available, as it has has the optimal ratios of Nitrogen, Phosphorus, and Potassium. They collaborated with the director of a nature preserve and others to have a device called an EcoLu, which separates solid and liquid waste, at the Lime Hollow Nature Center, where the fertilizer can be used.

# data[].attributes.body
Margaret, Logan, Gabe, Grace, and Sam wanted to motivate environmental consciousness, and educate people about the effects of throwing away their food scraps instead of composting. They wished to reignite plans for a vermicomposting facility in Courtland County, and took civic action by presenting their proposal to the mayor and the county's Environmental Legislative Committee. The plan is currently being proposed to the city council.

# data[].attributes.body
Mila found that members of her community were hesitant to use produce from local urban farms, so she reached out to reached out to council people in Western Philadelphia with a proposal to help promote urban farms to the community. This will allow community members access to fresh, locally-grown produce.

# data[].attributes.body
Olivia and Rebecca worked to provide free fresh vegetables to inner city residents. They turned an unused lot into a garden, raised seedlings and then transplanted them into the garden, and raised monarch butterflies before releasing them in the garden. They also added an apiary (habitat for bees) in the garden. They did an outreach event in the garden to their community, and encouraged other children to learn more about where their food comes from. They then took civic action by speaking to local representatives in support of the Birds & Bees Protection Act.

# data[].attributes.body
This student provides ongoing support to organic lands through her program POP - Promote Our Pollinators by creating awareness about the importance of pollinators in food systems. They have been sharing the importance of pollinators with different cities, including governor Dunleavy, which has resulted in the installation of permanent pollinator gardens in two cities.

# data[].attributes.body
These students wanted to change policies around funding for organic waste collection facilities and change community practices to help raise awareness about the new California law on food waste (enacted Jan 1st) that prohibits dumping food waste into organic green waste bins. They made an impact in our community by encouraging composting and awareness about the Green Bill. After informally surveying the attendees, they received feedback the event was successful in making students more aware about composting procedures and some of the provisions of the State Organics Law.

# data[].attributes.body
Fairfax, VA

Students from Lanier Middle School reduced use of plastic bottles at their school. They completed 10 youth-led projects from 2014-2016. They raised over $11,000 to fund the installation of eight water bottle refilling stations.

# data[].attributes.body
Charleston, SC

In 1999, Grayson Schleppegrell and a group of friends discovered that the swordfish population on the Charleston Bump was plummeting. Grayson took the issue to his Earth Force teacher. Using the Community Action and Problem-Solving Process, Grayson and his classmates researched the problem and came up with a strategy. They decided to lobby state governments to have the bycatch count towards a fisherman's total catch. After connecting with a group in Washington, DC who was already working on the issues, they threw their support behind a national policy. In 2001, Congress voted to count all fish regardless of size.

# data[].attributes.body
Lexington, VA

Students who were a part of NEST explored issues in their local community then voiced their ideas for change to a panel of community leaders, including leaders from the Conservation District and School Board. Superintendent Rebecca Walters joined to sit in on the ideas of the student “eco-councils.” Students first relayed their findings from wellness checks on the Woods Creek watershed completed by MRMS students in the fall of 2019, reporting declining water quality from sample areas around Lexington, including Jordan’s Point. Students proposed to the panel that Lexington Public Works plant “buffer trees” and replace and repair pipes near streams to aid in improving the water quality.

# data[].attributes.body
San Jose, CA

Students in Independence High School (the largest High School in Northern California) in San Jose, CA wrote a policy proposal to their school district, hoping to conserve energy. They proposed to their district that school pools remain covered and that they change swimming units to align with warmer weather, resulting in reduced energy use for pool heating, pumping, and chlorinating. The district agreed to enforce policy around pool covers, and is currently considering changing the schedule.

# data[].attributes.body
Detroit, MI

Sitting on 3 lots directly across from Cody High School, Hope Park is a student-led project seven years in the making. Students were able to pester the Mayor’s Office into demolishing the houses, leaving 3 plots of vacant land. With the support of a local nonprofit, EcoWorks Detroit, in a fiduciary role, the students were able to acquire the land for themselves. The students and EcoWorks were able to secure a grant from the Kresge Foundation, and the Hope Park project was born.

# data[].attributes.body
Students at Rudolf Steiner School learned that many people did not know about toxic pollution of dioxane throughout the state. The Dioxane Plume was moving towards the Huron River and would have a harmful impact on its water quality. The students got very interested in the legalities and the environmental impact on the community. They advocated that the state government permanently lower the levels of allowable dioxane in drinking water. The students worked in partnership with adult advocates to petition to permanently reduce the allowable levels. In October of 2017, the state permanently changed the allowable level of dioxane to 7.2 ppb (down from 85ppb).

# data[].attributes.headline
Pedestrian Path Arthur Ravenel Jr. Bridge

# data[].attributes.subject
Pedestrian Path Arthur Ravenel Jr. Bridge

# data[].attributes.body
Charleston, SC, USA

Fifth grade students in Charleston, SC, spent seven years advocating for a pedestrian path on the Arthur Ravenel Jr. Bridge and won. Over a million people cross the bridge each year by bikes or on foot and it creates a connection between two diverse communities.

# data[].attributes.body
Washington, D.C.

Students call for funding restoration for the DC Department of General Services (DSG). The department re-implementing composting in public schools on April 1, 2019. On DCPS campuses that participate in the composting program, students, assisted by teachers and administrators, go to stations following cafeteria meals to sort their leftovers and trash into three bins: trash, mixed recycling, and compost.

# data[].attributes.headline
Preserving the Winkler Botanical Preserve

# data[].attributes.subject
Preserving the Winkler Botanical Preserve

# data[].attributes.body
Young people saved the Winkler Preserve from a proposed transportation development for the new federal buildings. The students fought the proposed ramp off Interstate 395's HOV lane that would have destroyed about a third of the 45-acre Winkler Botanical Preserve.

# data[].attributes.body
Ana Humphrey's 7th grade science class used the Earth Force Process, which first sparked her interest in watershed health. In high school, Ana's passion for exoplanets became her focus. In 2019, Ana Humphrey took home $250,000 and the top prize in the Regeneron Science Talent Search. She credits her seventh grade science class for introducing her to the possibilities of STEM.

# data[].attributes.body
Wentzville, MO

Ms. Eckelkamp's 7th grade science class was concerned about the amount of garbage they found in the stream. The students met with the City Waste Disposal Office and reviewed data generated from a series of city surveys about recycling rates. They then reached out to a local Alderman to learn more about the new recycling policies adopted by the city. Students saw a gap in local policy around curbside recycling and made the argument that providing curbside recycling for multifamily dwellings would improve recycling rates in Wentzville. Students have worked with a local homeowners association and the City of Wentzville to draft Mutlifamily Recycling Policy.

# data[].attributes.location_name
3200 E Lafayette St, Detroit, MI 48207, USA

# data[].attributes.body
Martin Luther King Jr. High School & Youth Energy Squad

The Green Team identified a plumbing problem at their school that caused the first floor to smell terribly, negatively impacting the experiences of teachers and students. After collecting surveys, the smell was identified as strongest in the science wing. With the help of a Master Plumber, they identified that the “p taps” in that wing's sinks had gone dry and were allowing sewer gas to escape. Students decided to work to change school community practices, and instead of flushing the entire plumbing system to clear the smell, students had to make sure to run a little water down the sink every 2-3 weeks, conserving water and solving their problem effectively.

# data[].attributes.body
Inland Seas & Friends of the Upper Wabash Watershed

Students were tasked with developing a plan where they would have a voice in their community. The students decided to create a Youth Friends committee that is under the umbrella of the local watershed coalition. That group asked the watershed to enact changes and executed projects. Their first project involved removal of invasive species.

# data[].attributes.location_name
228 Avondale Ave, Stratford, ON N5A 6N4, Canada

# data[].attributes.body
St. Aloysius Catholic School & UTRCA

One 8th grade class and one 7th grade class developed their project based on their concern of waste management in their community. Stratford's Waste Reduction Coordinator became an an in-class expert for student groups, providing her expertise on waste reduction in the city and current policy.
Students researched community waste management systems and organic composting. By collaborating with a local GM Dealership and asking for change  from their school's administration, the students begin fundraising to purchase Food Waste Digesters and worked with the Waste Reduction Coordinator to identify ways to change the current city's waste management policy. Students implemented their project by installing two Food Waste Digesters at their school and one at the GM dealership.

# data[].attributes.location_name
18445 Cathedral St, Detroit, MI 48228, USA

# data[].attributes.body
Detroit Institute of Technology at Cody & Youth Energy Squad

The Hope Park Project is a student initiative that bought and revitalized a vacant lot in the vicinity of the school grounds. They advocated their school administration to help them with these changes, and through civic and community engagement, students designed a park that serves as a green community space with plenty of local flora. Students used local  and recyclable materials to build play structures, walkways, and a water-management bioswale, among other park projects.

Photo from the Hope Park Community Facebook Page

# data[].attributes.body
Southeast Area Elementary & the Field Museum

Seventh grade students were concerned about water quality in their city. Through their science and social science teachers, students investigated regional watersheds, toured the local water reclamation district treatment plant, and researched typical household water usage. To help water drain back into the Great Lakes watershed, students advocated for the creation a rain garden that would funnel excess water into the ground rather than into nearby sewers. The rain garden is situated in a lower area that frequently flooded due to elevation and clay soil.

# data[].attributes.body
A grade 7 class chose "Air Pollution from Local Industry" as their environmental  issue. With sponsorship from the local GM assembly plant, the students planted trees & shrubs on plant property to create a buffer to air pollution. Not satisfied with just this effort, the class also passed an anti-idling campaign at their school for waiting parents and buses and recruited 2 other nearby schools to do the same. In order to accomplish this, they asked for a school policy change from building administrators.

# data[].attributes.location_name
George Washington Middle School, Mount Vernon Avenue, Alexandria, VA, USA

# data[].attributes.body
George Washington Middle School & Senator Adam Ebbin

Students in Mary Breslin's seventh-grade science class at George Washington Middle School noticed a mushroom was growing underneath one of the classroom's baseboards. The students discovered that policies in their district did not cover mold spores. Working with State Senator Adam Ebbin, students asked for change by crafting Bill 845 to “require each local school board to develop and implement a plan to test and, if necessary, a plan to remediate mold in public school buildings.” The students saw their legislation pass the Virginia House of Delegates in Feb. 2020 and the bill was signed into law by Governor Northam on April 7, 2020.

# data[].attributes.location_name
Rooney Ranch Elementary School, South Coors Street, Lakewood, CO, USA

# data[].attributes.body
Rooney Ranch Elementary School

Students built on a previous Rooney Ranch Elementary Earth Force project that focused on the litter problem at and around nearby gully and water drainage system. Breaking into task force groups, students addressed graffiti problem that was leftover from the litter clean up and trash initiative. To cover existing graffiti, students asked for change by requesting to paint and install a mural with an anti-graffiti coat. This addressed landscape reforms and watershed damage.

# data[].attributes.location_name
Estes Park Middle School, Manford Avenue, Estes Park, CO, USA

# data[].attributes.body
Estes Park Middle School

After learning about wildfire risk, 6th grade students worked with Estes Valley Fire Protection (ECFP) volunteer firefighters to develop a proposal to increase homeowner engagement with ECFP's summer inspection program. Students also built two models depicting firewise and not-firewise homes used in a public demonstration of a mock wildfire to ask homeowners to adopt better practices. Additionally, students participated in community work days to help address fire risk properties.

# data[].attributes.location_name
Collegiate Academy of Colorado, Sangre De Cristo Road, Littleton, CO, USA

# data[].attributes.body
Collegiate Academy of Colorado & Audubon of Greater Denver's Chatfield Education Site

CAC's 10th graders conducted a year-long investigation at Chatfield State Park, focusing on water quality and habitat issues. By collecting water samples, making plant identifications, surveying trails, and speaking with park staff, students were able to research and ask park staff to address the real issue of trail degradation and informal trails.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
CAC Trail Maintenance at Denver Audubon (Final Presentation)

# data[].attributes.headline
Reusable Bag Initiative & Disposable Bag Bylaw Change

# data[].attributes.subject
Reusable Bag Initiative & Disposable Bag Bylaw Change

# data[].attributes.body
École Desrochers & Inside Education

A student committee was formed to participate in the reusable bag initiative in Jasper, Alberta. Students handmade reusable bags to be available in the commercial district for locals and visitors to use and return at their convenience. The committee also pushed for a bylaw change to ban disposable plastic bags in the city of Jasper.

# data[].attributes.location_name
École élémentaire publique Carrefour Jeunesse, St Jean St, Rockland, ON, Canada

# data[].attributes.body
École élémentaire publique Carrefour Jeunesse

Students worked to enhance the school's water fountains by asking school administration to install bottle refilling station attachments to water fountains. At one of the stations, they worked with the art teacher to paint a water education mural.
Since the attachment installation, reusable water bottles are common around the school, and single use plastic bottles are recycled appropriately.

# data[].attributes.location_name
Mount Vernon Elementary School, South Morgan Street, Chicago, IL, USA

# data[].attributes.body
Mount Vernon Elementary, The Field Museum, & Garfield Park Conservatory

By rallying the community, local park directors, and education team personnel at Garfield Park, students advocated for and developed a nature play space. Working with Chicago Parks District personnel, the space was installed in the adjacent Jackie Robinson park.

# data[].attributes.location_name
Lakeview Elementary School, Mexico Road, O'Fallon, MO, USA

# data[].attributes.body
Lakeview Elementary & the City of Wentzville

Students created grade specific presentations for students in K-5 to help educate the students on school recycling rules and how litter can impact stormwater. These presentations included a skit and demonstrations.
Some students also presented at Mission: Clean Stream, thanking volunteers for their work.

# data[].attributes.location_name
Wabash Elementary, Golden Gate Parkway, Foristell, MO, USA

# data[].attributes.body
Wabash Elementary & the City of Wentzville

Students identified Bush Honeysuckle as an invasive species and worked with their community and Allen's Tree Service to remove 20 cubic yards of the plant. This also served as an educational opportunity for residents of the community.

# data[].attributes.location_name
15850 Strathmoor St, Detroit, MI 48227, USA

# data[].attributes.body
John R. King Academy & Youth Energy Squad

Students investigated their school  nutrition, and surveyed their peers and school staff about how important it was for the school to provide healthy lunch was to the school community. They then addressed nutrition and the needs of their peers by asking for nutritional changes to the head chef of the district to improve  their school lunch quality.

# data[].attributes.location_name
Aspen Ridge Middle School, Aspen Ridge School Road, Ishpeming, MI, USA

# data[].attributes.body
Aspen Ridge Middle School & Clear Lake Education Center

A group of four students representing their class asked for change around paper towel waste  issues to the school board. Additional environmental and cost research on dryers secured the alternative to paper towel waste.
The project also won the NEEF Climate Superstar Challenge.

# data[].attributes.location_name
Boxerwood Nature Center & Woodland Garden, Ross Road, Lexington, VA, USA

# data[].attributes.body
Boxerwood Nature Center

In the first ever middle-school environmental youth summit, students learned and engaged with the Lexington community, sharing their plans for waste reduction and wildlife well-being.