Delaware honors young environmental stewards

HARRINGTON, Del. — Nine Delaware students were honored as the 2010 Young Environmentalists of the Year by Gov. Jack Markell, Natural Resources Secretary Collin O’Mara and Deputy Secretary David Small on July 29.
“These students are the future and they are leading the way to a cleaner, greener and more sustainable future, not just among their peers, but for all Delawareans,” said O’Mara.
Nolan Moss, 10, of Newark, Del., was chosen as the Delaware Elementary School Young Environmentalist of the Year. He will enter the fifth grade at John R. Downes Elementary School in the fall.
Moss first began researching biodegradation and landfills for his second grade science project, “The Garbage Garden.” The project won first place in the school science fair and inspired the Moss family to change their lifestyle to reduce, reuse and recycle.
Moss did not stop there, however. This year, for Earth Day, Moss presented his project to his homeroom, educating his classmates about the biodegradability of common items such as juice pouches and pizza boxes, and teaching them how to reduce their landfill impact through easy daily actions.
This led to classroom visits throughout his school and an opportunity to present his information to seniors in the Advanced Placement Environmental Science class at Newark High School, where he impressed both the students and their teacher Bob McDowell.
Moss also implemented a daily morning announcement at school, “Eco-Sharks Tip of the Day,” in which he shares an important environmental fact or helpful tip with Downes’ 450 students. In addition to his own tips, he also encourages submitted tips from other students.
Judges commended Moss for “living green” from such a young age.
“He is constantly thinking of new ways to make his part of our world a greener place and continually learning and educating others to be more environmentally aware and educated,” said judge Patty Murray.
Cleo Bell, 11, of Dover, was named Delaware’s Middle School Young Environmentalist of the Year. An honor roll student, Girl Scout and athlete, Cleo actively advocates recycling every day at home, school and in her neighborhood by giving out flyers, doing presentations and using and encouraging others to use recycled products.
Her “reuse” was noted by judges as especially creative: Baby wipe containers become marker holders, empty egg cartons become drawer organizers and plastic bottles become noisemakers. Bell urged her entire neighborhood to recycle by distributing flyers and the number of curbside recycling containers has since increased.
“To take the initiative to contact all her neighbors about the importance of recycling demonstrates Cleo’s beliefs in caring for the environment. And her actions are not required work for a class or to earn a badge,” Jacobs said.
Bell said her mission was inspired in part by watching educational shows about the earth and oceans on television.
“Those inspired me to show others what we have now that could be lost,” Bell said. “I explain to people, it’s important to recycle — and it’s easy to do.”
Bell will be a seventh grader at St. John’s School in the fall.
Carrie Ann Johnston, 18, a 2010 graduate of Smyrna High School, is the Delaware High School Young Environmentalist of the Year. Three years ago, Johnston started her now-annual project of leading community volunteers into the Cedar Swamp State Wildlife Area to remove invasive species and plant native trees.
Since then, more than 100 volunteers have participated in Johnston’s project and planted more than 400 trees, helping to restore Cedar Swamp to its native state.
Johnston also is in the midst of a three-year project to raise public awareness about the impact of plastic bags on the environment, not only as litter and landfill filler, but also as a danger to animals and as a product that consumes a lot of energy to produce.
Carrie actively seeks to reduce the use of plastic bags, promote reusable cloth bags and encourage recycling. She gathered a crew of youth and adults to create and place plastic bag recycling bins at various locations in the Smyrna-Dover area, and has arranged pickup by a company that recycles bags into plastic bricks.
“Johnston has great tenacity and commitment to long-term projects. She’s a great advocate for the environment, and I’m looking forward to seeing her as a colleague in the future,” Murray said.
“Protecting the environment requires continued action, and Carrie has demonstrated that she is willing to provide that action,” Jacobs said.
The Caesar Rodney High School Earth Club officers — Erin Frick, Liz Wilson, Tyler Stokes, Purvi Patel, Vi Nguyen and Purav Patel — were given special group recognition as Young Environmentalists of the Year for their leadership during what their advisor, Molly Stokes, called an “astonishing” school year.
The officers led the way with five big projects: Revitalizing the school-wide recycling program, a $300 donation to the Kent County SPCA’s spay-neuter program to help reduce the environmental impact of feral cats; participation in the state’s Adopt-A-Highway program; clearing the winter debris from the walking paths at Killens Pond State Park and completion of plans to construct a living classroom in the school courtyard.
Established in 1993 in honor of former DNREC Secretary Dr. Edwin H. Clark II, the Young Environmentalist of the Year awards are presented annually to Delaware students who have worked to protect, restore or enhance our state’s natural resources through environmental stewardship, innovative projects and promoting public awareness.
Also honored were the three top trophy winners in the DNREC Division of Fish and Wildlife’s Annual Youth Fishing Tournament, which was held June 12 at three Delaware ponds. This year’s honorees were:
• Kent County and overall statewide winner, Ben Newlin, 9, of Milford, Del., caught 4.27 pounds of fish out of Wyoming Pond
• New Castle County winner, Ryan Stetser, 12, of New Castle,  Del., took second place statewide with 3.49 pounds of fish caught at Lums Pond in Bear, Del.
• Sussex County winner, Will Geppert, 11, of Rehoboth Beach, Del., won third place statewide with catches totaling 2.14 pounds out of Ingrams Pond in Millsboro, Del.