Exploring the environmental field: FMR's 2025 summer youth program

Trash cleanup at Harriet Island

We kicked off our outings with service learning, discussing the impact of storm drain pollution and cleaning up Harriet Island in St. Paul.

Survival skills and wildlife encounters at Dodge Nature Center

Staff from Dodge Nature Center talked to us about the role of a naturalist and took us on a tour. We got to hold turtles and snakes and practice survival skills, including fire-starting with flint and steel.

Climate change and tree research at Crosby Farm Regional Park

We collected temperature data in the Adaptive Silviculture for Climate Change study at Crosby Farm Regional Park with Mississippi Park Connection and DNR staff.

History at Fort Snelling State Park

We toured Fort Snelling with naturalist Kao Thao, learning about the history and the importance of Bdote. We also learned about Minnesota ecosystems and the challenges they face.

Canoeing at Lake Nokomis

Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge staff took us canoeing on Lake Nokomis, where they also taught us about the National Fish and Wildlife Service and the variety of careers within it.

Kayaking and arhcery at Cedar Lake

We kayaked at Cedar Lake and practiced archery on the shore.

Public art at the Alebrijes exhibit

We visited Raspberry Island to see art in greenspace through the Alebrijes installation. We got to meet and hear from the artists about their sculptures.

Pollinator survey at River Heights Park

We learned about the monarch life cycle and migration patterns from FMR's Dr. Julia Leone, and then participated in a monarch monitoring survey at River Heights Park with Julia and FMR's summer conservation interns.

Hiking at Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge

For our last outing, we visited our Minnesota Valley partners down in Bloomington, hearing about their apprenticeship program, getting a tour of their building and taking a hike to see the refuge.

Emily's sea turtle sculpture made of plastic pollution

"I used my creative thinking to come up with something unique: a sea turtle sculpture that is made out of plastic. I also came up with a presentation with my art statement and details about plastic pollution. I decided to make it more spectacular by adding lights inside the turtle to make it shine."

Gao's collage about agricultural pollution

"I chose to research pollution because I didn’t really know anything about it. I like doing research projects, and I like doing art, so I used magazines to create this collage. I also created a mini slideshow on agricultural pollution to share on our final project day."

John's environmental art piece

"Being a visual artist I am drawn more to visual pieces that carry deep messages, so I decided to create an art piece inspired by the stamp act to protest against the environmental injustices present today. I looked back on historical art pieces and found a 'no taxation without representation' protest piece, which was a very dark and threading image of a snake.

"This piece reflects the ongoing cycle of environmental issues, such as the use of fossil fuels and global warming affecting the globe and how we are not acknowledging it."

Maggie's crocheted rainbow snake and research on extinction

"I made a slideshow presentation about how extinction spreads throughout ecosystems and used the rainbow snake as an example. I feel like many people don’t understand how one species going extinct is a huge deal and can affect the entire ecosystem. By helping to save one species, you are saving an entire ecosystem along with it. It's the small changes that we can make in our daily lives that make all the difference."

Natalie's water pollution diorama, "Flowing with Filth"

"I chose to do a diorama on water pollution in the Mississippi River because I really like art projects, and I wanted to learn about the water in the Mississippi River. I found that the Mississippi River is polluted by trash, chemicals and waste from farms and factories. This pollution harms wildlife, makes water unsafe and creates a dead zone in the Gulf of Mexico. We need to protect the river to keep it healthy and safe for people and nature."

Jacob's research presentation on invasive purple loosestrife

"I made a slideshow to show how to identify purple loosestrife and what purple loosestrife does to the environment. I made this project because a lot of people see purple loosestrife and don't know how negative its spread can be to the local wildlife and land.

"I wanted to help educate people on the invasive plant so they know how to get rid of it. Purple loosestrife is almost everywhere because of how hard it is to remove, so it has a major effect on the environment in Minnesota."

Jaydin's research poster on the Mississippi River

"I made two poster boards about the decay of the river. I also drew with pencil a picture of it before and after the pollution of everything. I gave facts about how to make it better. 

"I chose my project because I was inspired by the scenery we explored on ESI trips. I realized that the river was more beautiful than people make it seem. I feel that we as a whole should try to make it better."

Ollie's research poster on air pollution's effects on the human body

"I researched and organized information about major pollutants and their effects on the human body. I was inspired to do this project because air pollution and air quality is very prevalent right now and has a big impact on individuals' health. I want to be a nurse, and I'm currently training to be a CNA. Learning more about how common air pollutants affect the body is a really interesting concept for me and builds on the knowledge and functions I am already learning about. 

"I’m personally affected by this, as we all are. As someone who is sensitive to heat and has family and friends with respiratory and cardiovascular conditions, minimizing pollutants that affect air quality and contribute to heating up our climate is something I’m especially passionate about."

Rahnia & Halelluya's research on storm drain pollution and its effects on the Twin Cities' Mississippi River watershed

"We researched pollutants that are frequently flushed down storm drains and their effects on Minnesota waterways. We also contacted an expert in storm drainage to understand potential filtration methods. We wanted to inspire people to do little things in their everyday lives to contribute less to water pollution. This project was a way to inform people of the pollutants that cause harm to local waterways.

"Most storm drains empty straight into the nearest waterways like rivers and lakes. Often there is no filtration system stopping microplastics, road salts or fertilizers from entering our beloved waterways."

Salvador's research poster on the greenhouse effect

"After researching, I created a drawing of how a child would see the greenhouse effect and the world. I chose this because I love nature and don’t really want it to be trashed. The world is truly harsh no matter how someone tries to change it. It won’t change without a team agreement."

Addy's zine on the evolution of St. Anthony Falls

"I made a zine to talk about the industrialization and birth of St. Anthony Falls, and how it's changed over time. I live somewhat close to the falls, and there is such a historical charm to the area that it made me curious. So I made a mini magazine so that others can learn some cool facts and history about St. Anthony Falls in an accessible way.

"I wanted to help people understand how rapid industrialization in an area deemed as sacred, such as St. Anthony Falls, changes an area over time, especially when nature tries to claim it back in the process (like the Eastman tunnel collapse)."

Madeleine, Lizzie & Alexandra's trash and treasure hunt event at a riverside park

"We planned and advertised for a trash cleanup in Hidden Falls Regional Park. We also researched invasive plants found in this area to educate the people at the cleanup on what plants they should watch out for and get rid of. 

We chose this project because we learned a lot about our Mississippi watershed through FMR, and we wanted to spread that knowledge and inspire others to take better care of their surroundings."

Manuel & Abdiasis' trash cleanup

"We went to a public school with a field and cleaned its trash. Then, we gathered information on pollution prevention to present at our final project day. We wanted to promote and educate people on the dangers of pollution in a public space. We also wanted to take action in making the world a cleaner environment, so we decided to combine both. 

"Cleaning public spaces may seem like a small step in making the world a cleaner place, but it's a process that people have been working on and will be working on in the future."

Mishtaaq's educational flyer on littering and water pollution

"I made a poster that includes information about littering and how our river is so polluted because of littering. On the back side I included ways to prevent littering. I chose this project because it’s a problem that seems small, but in my eyes, it’s important. Also, when I was interviewed for this job it was the first thing that came to mind.