CLIMATE AMBASSADOR PROJECTS
2023-2024
GIANNA, PARKERSBURG HIGH SCHOOL
Gianna is organizing efforts to bring biodiversity to the area by building two butterfly gardens/sanctuaries – one at Emerson Elementary and another located at a favorite camping spot. She will also provide a plaque or signage that explains the importance of these pollinator gardens.
AARON, PARKERSBURG HIGH SCHOOL
Aaron is working to build and install birdhouses in various parks in the Mid-Ohio Valley region. His goal is to provide safe and stable housing for birds who may have lost their habitats. He also aims to provide a plaque with these birdhouses that will explain the importance of preserving habitats.
MEREDITH, PARKERSBURG HIGH SCHOOL
Meredith is working with the Tree Commission in the City of Parkersburg, WV to plant trees and to provide tree seedlings to distribute to 4th graders in Parkersburg and surrounding areas as part of the Tree Commissions Annual 4th Grade Foresters Program. She, along with other ambassadors, have the opportunity to accompany the commissioners to the 4th grade classrooms and talk to them about the importance of trees, as well as explaining proper tree-planting procedures and the importance of trees in the community. Her goal is to increase biodiversity and habitation of local wildlife.
MATTHEW, WILLIAMSTOWN HIGH SCHOOL
Matthew is currently focusing on building an Environmental Program within his school to promote overall awareness of climate-related issues. He plans to recruit members and develop activities to get other students involved in the club to create a successful, long-term group of local activists. He is also working alongside Senior Ambassador, Alayna, to help implement his plans. He attended the Marietta Earth Day event.
NADIA/RILEY, WARREN HIGH SCHOOL
Nadia and Riley are working together with the Warren Environmental Club to create a school garden using eco bricks. Eco “bricks” are made by filling bottles with non-recyclable, single-use plastics. They hope that the garden can be used as a learning tool to educate students and club members about the process of growing and harvesting food, and the impact that using food from non-local sources have on the environment. The goal is to create active and open conversations about pollution, climate change, and food sovereignty.
SENIOR AMBASSADORS
Nate, Parkersburg High School and Alayna, Williamstown High School are MOVCA’s Youth Climate Senior Ambassadors. They assist the first-year ambassadors with resources for their projects. Nate and Alayna will be focusing on organizing a group activity and leading efforts to engage public officials.
2022-2023
NATE,
PARKERSBURG HIGH SCHOOL
Nate is working on bringing bat boxes to the campus of PHS. Bat boxes help to compensate for the loss of trees due to deforestation and urbanization, creating a human-made home for them where nature is no longer available. While bats may have a misunderstood and “scary” reputation, they are actually very important to our ecosystem and if they were to disappear, there would be serious consequences!
Nate also assisted in bringing a Kitchen Klimate Science presentation to PHS.
ALAYNA,
WILLIAMSTOWN HIGH SCHOOL
Alayna is working on creating an environmental club at her school to increase awareness of climate and other environmental issues among her peers and to give those who are interested in these issues a place to join with other like-minded students. She proposed several ideas for the club, including publishing an environmental zine, working with the art club to create “trash art” sculptures out of single use plastics, and developing a pollinator garden while using composted cafeteria food scraps, just to name a few.
LILLIAN,
PARKERSBURG HIGH SCHOOL
Lillian’s project is to create a sustainable coffee stand before school hours to promote awareness of the climate crisis. She will use sustainable materials to reduce waste, and will use the stand to spread her message to a wider audience than what she might have a chance to do during the normal course of the day. Lillian wants to use the proceeds from her project to fund additional climate ambassador projects or to donate to other climate-related nonprofits.
ANNA,
PARKERSBURG HIGH SCHOOL
Anna is working with her school to cultivate a biodiversity garden on campus. She has proposed bringing other students into the project by, for example, commissioning art students to design informational posters after she determines what they should contain. While preparations have been ongoing throughout the year, planting for the garden would begin in February/March of 2023.