The Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) is calling on teachers and students in northern Ohio to join a program that gives them a first-hand look at conservation and ecology. The H2Ohio Students Take Action Program focuses on wetland restoration projects implemented under Governor Mike DeWine’s H2Ohio initiative.

“ODNR strives to improve water quality and preserve our natural wonders and part of the mission is to pass on that knowledge to the next generation of Ohioans,” ODNR Director Mary Mertz said. “This program gives students a first-hand look at Ohio’s waterways and empowers them to think big and find solutions for our state’s water quality issues.”

The H2Ohio Students Take Action program provides middle and high school teachers and their students with real-world learning opportunities, access to wetland sites, career exploration opportunities, and more. Projects in this program urge students to “take action” with their ideas and use what they learn to positively impact their watershed.

With the help of ODNR naturalists, students will take trips to Ohio’s wetlands, lakes, rivers and streams to learn about ecology, watersheds, natural history, human impacts on the water, and more.

Education experiences include:

• Water quality tests/investigation
• Stream quality monitoring
• Invasive species removal
• Seed collection
• Rear and plant native wetland plants
• Raise and release fish
• Wildlife survey
• River, stream, or beach clean-up

Teachers can sign up for the program here.

Find more information about the program by visiting the H2Ohio Students Take Action webpage.

Governor Mike DeWine created H2Ohio in 2019 as a comprehensive, data-driven approach to combatting algal blooms, enhancing water quality, and improving water infrastructure over the long term. H2Ohio operates in partnership between the Ohio Department of Natural Resources, Ohio Department of Agriculture, Ohio Environmental Protection Agency, and the Ohio Lake Erie Commission. The initiative focuses on encouraging agricultural best management practices, restoring and enhancing wetlands, upgrading outdated water infrastructure, and replacing lead pipes. For more information on the H2Ohio initiative, please visit h2.ohio.gov.

ODNR ensures a balance between wise use and protection of our natural resources for the benefit of all. Visit the ODNR website at ohiodnr.gov.

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