On Wednesday evening six student teams from area schools will be competing for $4,500 in cash prizes at the Caring For Our WatershedsTM environmental education competition. The finalists will be making an oral presentation of their solution to an environmental concern to a panel of five judges. Participating schools will also be eligible for over $5,000 in matching prizes and participation rewards.
The free event is at Timber Ridge Golf Course in Brighton from 5-7:30 p.m.
The finalists:
1. GRAB-A-BAG – Taylor Cridland, Hallye Ward East – Northumberland Secondary School
We want to reduce the amount of litter on local beaches by providing biodegradable litter bags for beach users. The bags will be available at the entrance of the beach alongside a dumpster to encourage beach users to properly dispose of their garbage, leaving our local beaches litter free.
2. Cotton On! Cotton Diapers Don’t Cost the Earth – Cachell Cox – Brighton Public School
My proposal is to launch an intensive information campaign containing non-biased facts about the difference between disposable and cloth diapers and the impact on our health, economy and environment.
3. Operation Watershed Awareness – Lucy Clitherow, Cassidy Tizzard – St. Mary’s Catholic Elementary School
We want to write and illustrate a children’s storybook to educate youth about our watershed and what we can do to improve and help our environment. We hope to raise awareness about what a watershed is and the environmental concerns found in our watershed.
4. Storm Drain Filters – Hannah McCrory – Murray Centennial Public School
My proposal is to install Storm Drain Filter inserts in Trenton to decrease the amount of harmful substances that enter the Trent-Severn Waterway. I would also like to increase awareness of water quality issues by painting fish decals on storm drains in the Trenton area of our watershed.
5. A New Way To Save Water – Kamyrn Pollock, Kyle Carson, Kristen Doyle – St. Mary’s Catholic Elementary School
We want to raise awareness about conserving water through the use of rain barrels. We plan on hosting a rain barrel community event that will provide families with the opportunity to buy a rain barrel, participate in a rain barrel painting contest, and learn about the different uses for rain water around your home.
6. Red Maple Seedling Fundraiser –Chantal Ouellet – Murray Centennial Public School
I want to have a tree seedling fundraiser at my school with the profits going towards the purchase of a water bottle refilling station for the school. I will increase awareness of the importance of planting trees in our watershed and educate my school community about the negative impacts of disposable water bottles on the environment.