Youth Clean Water Summit Engages and Empowers Students
Most teachers know that engaging classes on hot days at the end of the school year is sometimes a struggle. But students from Saint Albans City School had an auditorium full of students on their feet with excitement during their opening keynote address at this week’s Youth Clean Water Summit on the Burlington waterfront.
Nearly 200 students from across the Lake Champlain watershed came together to learn and explore the significance of clean water for the lake and communities at the first ever summit. The event aimed to inspire students and equip them with the information they need to become responsible stewards of clean water.
The maker space interns from St. Albans shared some of the products they designed to help spread awareness about clean water. The energizing presentation set the tone for a morning of engaging activities while demonstrating the power of young voices in spreading awareness and making change.
Student artwork created specifically for the summit and for the World Water Day celebration in March lined the walls of the lobby where the group gathered. Some art shared information about the lake and clean water initiatives, while other pieces simply spread appreciation for the beauty inherent in clean water and healthy ecosystems.
After the presentation, student groups dispersed throughout the waterfront to explore stations with activities led by a variety of community partners. Students had the chance to go out on the water in various types of vessels, with one student exclaiming “that was the first time I have ever been on a boat!”
The fishing station was also a student favorite. While some students arrived fully equipped with their own poles and tackle boxes, others experienced the thrill of fishing for the first time.
Some students gained hands-on experience with equipment and methods used to monitor water quality in Lake Champlain. They toured labs, learned about macroinvertebrates, and used Secchi disks to understand the importance of data and monitoring in protecting clean water.
These activities exposed students to the work conducted by partner organizations and highlighted the beauty of a clean Lake Champlain, inspiring them to be advocates for its preservation.
The producers of the documentary “No Other Lake” used portions of their film to teach about the power and importance of storytelling in the work for clean water and watershed conservation.
High school students organized and lead activities for their younger peers at many of the stations. By sharing their knowledge and passion for clean water, the older students highlighted the crucial role young people play in stewardship of the Lake Champlain Basin.
The Youth Clean Water Summit was made possible with the help of a team of watershed and community partners.
- Lake Champlain Sea Grant
- Community Sailing Center
- Lake Champlain Maritime Museum
- Conservation Law Foundation Lake Champlain Lakekeeper
- Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department
- Whistling Man Schooner
- Lake Champlain Film
- Lake Champlain Basin Program
The organizers were thrilled with the enthusiastic participation and hope it’s the beginning of student gatherings.