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Gannon University's Project NePTWNE has partnered with to help give Erie-area youth the opportunity to experience Lake Erie in a whole new way—through paddling, environmental science, conservation and documentary filmmaking.

The First Waves Erie, through the Watersmith Guild, program brings together approximately 20 teenagers from and other community youth organizations for immersive workshops of outdoor adventure and hands-on learning.

Designed to expand access to experiences that connect young people with the natural resources in their  own community, the program encourages participants to see themselves as future environmental stewards,  scientists, artists and advocates for clean water.

Throughout the week, students will paddle the waters of Presque Isle Bay, participate in a beach cleanup, collect and analyze microplastics, and create their own short environmental documentaries highlighting the importance of protecting Lake Erie.

"Some of these students have lived just minutes from Lake Erie without ever having the opportunity to truly experience it from the water," said Ian Smith, founder of First Waves. "Our goal is to remove those barriers and help students build a personal connection to this incredible resource. When young people paddle these  waters, explore the ecosystem, collect scientific data and tell those stories through film, they begin to see  that they can play an important role in protecting the place they call home."

A key highlight of the experience takes place at Gannon University's Center for Lake Erie Education and Research (CLEER), located in the Blasco Library, where students move beyond observation and into  scientific discovery.

After collecting water samples and microplastics while paddling Presque Isle Bay, participants will bring  their findings into the laboratory to analyze the health of the ecosystem using the same types of research  methods employed by environmental scientists.

"One of the most exciting parts of this program is that students are not just learning about environmental  issues, they are becoming scientists themselves," said Sherri Mason, Ph.D., director of Project NePTWNE  "They will collect real data from Lake Erie, analyze it in our laboratory and see how research can inform  conservation efforts. We hope they leave understanding that they do not have to wait until college or 
adulthood to make a meaningful impact. They can start protecting the Great Lakes today."

The week began at Presque Isle State Park with a guided paddle through the lagoon and an ecological tour before students participate in a beach cleanup. Later in the week, participants collected water samples and microplastics from Presque Isle Bay before analyzing their findings in 名媛直播's CLEER Laboratory. The experience concluded with a documentary filmmaking workshop where students transform  what they have learned into short films that will premiere for family, friends and community partners