MORNING BREAKOUT SESSIONS: 10:15-11:10 AM
Women in Politics, Room 207A (2nd Floor)
In this session, students will learn how they can address the climate crisis, starting in their own community, while looking through the valuable lens of legislation and initiatives. Hearing from two elected women at the local and state level, students will gain insights into the intersectionality of women, politics, and the environment, equipping students with the tools needed to use their voices for environmental change through an interactive solutions-based activity.
Led by: Students Esther Tan & Claire Witalec, Laurel School with Courtney Zimmerman of Cuyahoga Falls School Board and Representative Juanita Brent of The Ohio State House
Community Lab for Upcycling & Building, Room 207B (2nd Floor)
In this interactive session, participants will explore how upcycling can serve as a practical and creative response to real community needs. Students will learn to assess local challenges, collect recyclable and upcyclable materials, and design purposeful projects that transform waste into functional solutions. Through hands-on mini projects, participants will experience how accessible and engaging upcycling can be, while considering ways to implement sustainable building and reuse practices in their own communities.
Led by: Students Acoy Miller & Aziz Ahmad, Intergenerational Schools
Fishing for Trash - Cleaning Up Ohio's Waterways, Room 207C (2nd Floor)
In this session, students will learn about the history of pollution/littering in Northeast Ohio's communities and waterways and the issues that are still currently affecting these communities. Participants will get the opportunity to discuss the ways in which they have seen these issues affect their own communities and how they can have detrimental effects to the health and wellbeing of a community. At the end, they will get to test their knowledge with a Jeopardy style quiz!
Led by: Students Mack Gilbert & Kaisa Strautnieks, Laurel School
C.A.R.E.S. - Collective Approach for Restoring our Ecosystem, Room 302 (3rd Floor)
This session engages youth in hands-on coral, fish, and substrate monitoring, empowering the next generation of marine scientists and ocean stewards through real-world reef conservation. Explore how engaging youth in marine monitoring builds real-world scientific skills, deepens environmental responsibility, and creates pathways into blue-economy careers.
Led by: Greg Hood, Scuba Instructor and Marine Conservation Leader, SYATT & The Ohio State University
From Local Communities to Global Impact - International Partnerships for Climate Action, Room 304 (3rd Floor)
International connections are necessary to make meaningful change. In this session, students will explore how to bridge local initiatives with those across the world to facilitate cross-cultural collaboration. Students will hear from a speaker who promotes advocacy and international partnership in countries across the world and participate in an activity that teaches them to mobilize people towards a common goal. By the end of the session, students will be equipped with a global mindset and the blueprints to launch their own initiative.
Led by: Student Hannah Rosenfeld, Laurel School & Joe Cistone, IPM
From Sky to Shore - Connecting Air Quality and Lake Erie’s Future, Room 307A (3rd Floor)
What does the air we are breathing above us have to do with the water that is beside us? More than we can even begin to imagine. In this session, we will explain the direct relationships between pollution from emissions, climate change, and atmospheric contaminants that affect the quality of water in the Lake Erie watershed. We will also highlight a number of youth-driven methods that help to lower our total environmental impact, which will protect both the air we breathe and the water we drink.
Led by: Students Michael Cacioli, Danny Yuhas, and Aiden Yu, Gilmour Academy
Nature Knows Best: Eco Innovation through Biomimicry, Room 307B (3rd Floor)
Students will explore how nature has continuously provided an efficient, sustainable, and trailblazing guide for human innovation. In this session, you will dive deep into biomimicry's significance through a brief presentation followed by a Q&A. We will then conclude with a hands-on activity and student-led discussion to reinforce student understanding.
Led by: Students Chloe Ng, Yamini Sridhar, & Katie Spellacy, Laurel School and Dr. Lara Roketenetz, University of Akron Field Station
Stylish and Sustainable - The Negative Side of Fast Fashion and Applicable Solutions, Room 308 (3rd Floor)
Just trying to dress yourself can feel like an ethical dilemma. It can feel overwhelming to disengage from fast fashion in an affordable and practical way. In this session, we’ll cover the negative impacts of fast fashion, including the wasteful and dangerous practices used by fast fashion companies during production, health issues that result from microplastics in fast fashion garments, and the pollution that garments and textiles cause once discarded. We will navigate how to make environmentally conscious fashion decisions by discussing ways to prolong the life of garments, including how to repair and upcycle clothing. Together, we'll learn how to make decisions as consumers while being both stylish and sustainable.
Led by: Aidan Meany, Found Surface & Students Violet Gonzalez, Zoe Pierce, Gray Olson, Lakewood H2O “Help to Others” Program, Lakewood High School
AFTERNOON BREAKOUT SESSIONS: 12:35-1:25 PM
Climate Disasters & Global Health: Global Health Solutions for a Changing World, Room 207A (2nd Floor)
Explore how climate disasters around the world, such as droughts in central Africa, earthquakes in Turkey and Syria, and the recent Los Angeles wildfires, impact global health issues ranging from mental health concerns to poor water quality to disease outbreaks. Analyze international case studies to dive deeper into the direct effects of climate disasters on an entire community’s health and quality of life. Lastly, collaborate with peers to study national and global responses to climate disasters, while brainstorming creative and effective solutions to ongoing climate emergencies.
Led by: Students Asalé Jones and Jannah Kazmi, Laurel School
Enough With the Waste – Let the Wind do the Work. America, It’s Clothesline Time! Room 207B (2nd Floor)
Line drying laundry is one of the simplest, most overlooked climate solutions hiding in plain sight. In this session, we’ll explore how a basic household habit can cut carbon emissions, reduce energy demand, and dramatically lower the release of microplastics into our air. By connecting everyday choices to big‑picture climate impacts, we’ll show how small actions scale - especially when adopted across communities. Participants will also take part in an interactive activity that highlights how quick and effortless line drying can be, and how youth leadership can help normalize low‑tech, high‑impact climate solutions.
Led by: Student Shannon Mullaly, Home-School Student
Build Your Own Park - Cleveland’s Native Resources and Nature Conservation, Room 207C (2nd Floor)
In this session, students will be informed on the environmental role of local metroparks. Through a hands-on "build your own" activity, students will investigate components of a successful space for enrichment and conservation of our community's native species and resources. This will be accomplished in a case study, interactive fashion.
Led by: Student Ana Rubio-Calvillo, Laurel School & Western Reserve Land Conservancy
From Macro to Micro - The Ripple Effect of Plastics, Room 304 (3rd Floor)
In this session, you will delve into the far-reaching effects of both macro and microplastics on our ecosystems, closely examining microplastics under a microscope. Through collaborative brainstorming, you will explore innovative solutions to address this pervasive issue. A guest speaker will share invaluable expertise, sparking a deeper discussion on the necessary individual actions and systemic reforms needed to combat plastic pollution on a global scale.
Led by: Students Carina Kosla and Diya Anand, Youth Eco Impact at Brecksville/Broadview Heights High School
The Work of the Youth Environmental Press Team, Room 307A (3rd Floor)
In this session, students will take a step into youth environmental journalism and writing professionally. Diving into the work of the Youth Environmental Press Team, participants will explore published works by peers around the country, voyage through a journalism crash course, and have the opportunity to start stories that they can publish themselves.
Led by: Students Asal Mohammadi & Anya Ustin, Hawken School
Fresh Water Institute - The Power of Youth Perspective for the Great Lakes, Room 307B (3rd Floor)
This youth-led session centers the Great Lakes as both a vital natural resource and a living classroom. The Fresh Water Institute’s Fresh Water Fellows will share their experiences in the program and how hands-on learning has shaped their understanding of water, climate impacts, environmental justice, and regional stewardship. Through guided conversation, participants will contribute their own insights and ideas, creating a collective exploration of the challenges facing the Great Lakes and identifying pathways toward sustainable, community-driven solutions.
Led by: Fresh Water Fellows, FreshWater Institute and SYATT
Sustainable Film Making, Room 308 (3rd Floor)
Step into the world of filmmaking! In this session, you will experience an immersive lesson on the lack of movies available about environmental issues and harmful production processes. You will engage in an activity exploring how to create a synopsis about environmental issues and different ways to be sustainable during production.
Led by: Student Sofia Teresinski, Laurel School