(Courtesy/Ms. Kurth)

On November 5, seven members of Academy’s Environmental Club, accompanied by Upper School biology and environmental science teacher, Emma Kurth, attended the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium’s Teen Eco Summit.

Our group had the opportunity to brainstorm a 2025 Conservation Action Plan which students later implemented within their schools or in local communities to address a variety of topics related to sustainability and conservation.

To start the day, teams participated in a fun and competitive Kahoot featuring trivia about the zoo and the summit itself. Following that, a panel of students shared insights about projects completed in previous years, answering questions and providing guidance for this year’s participants. Groups collaborated in a hands-on activity building squirrel boxes, led by teachers at the Ohio Wildlife Center. Afterwards, Justin Grubb, founder of Run Wild Media, shared his experience as a wildlife filmmaker which led to one of summit’s final activities: creating posters that highlight the groups’ 2025 Conservation Action Plan.

This year, our club hopes to support biodiversity and tackle the issue of local food scarcity, stemming from its involvement in the permaculture project and in last year’s revival of our Campus Garden. Hoping to broaden the impact of CA’s garden, Environmental Club’s 2025 Conservation Action Plan aims to grow food to donate to local food pantries. 

With the government shutdown approaching 40 days, millions of Americans have lost  their Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits, creating a surge in the number of citizens who rely on food banks and their services. With increasing food scarcity, the Environmental Club’s work to fight community hunger is now more important than ever.

Our team’s memorable experience led to a drive to promote sustainability, take action against local hunger, and make an impact on the greater Columbus.