On September 25, 2025, the Niagara Peninsula Conservation Authority (NPCA) hosted the second Niagara Great Lakes Student Conference at Old Fort Erie. We welcomed more than 100 high school students from across the District School Board of Niagara (DSBN) and Niagara Catholic District School Board (NCDSB). Designed as an immersive, hands-on learning experience, the conference connected youth directly to Great Lakes issues, priorities, and career pathways.
The day began with an opening ceremony led by Gary Parker, Indigenous Lead for the Niagara Catholic Indigenous team. Gary stressed the importance of remembering the gifts that the Earth and water provide for us. His message set the tone for a day focused on responsibility and stewardship of our shared natural resources.
Throughout the day, students rotated through interactive stations led by environmental professionals and educators. These hands-on sessions explored a wide range of Great Lakes topics, highlighting the complexity of Great Lakes Ecosystems and the many disciplines involved in protecting them.
- Species at Risk (turtles and snakes)
- Erosion and Engineering
- Water Quality and Benthics
- Niagara River Remedial Action Plan
- Indigenous Connections to Water
- Geology of the Great Lakes
Feedback from educators reinforced the value of the experience. One teacher shared, “This memorable event takes students right to the shoreline of Lake Erie where it meets the Niagara River and helps them discover their interest in the Great Lakes and the environment.”
Katy Sokoloski, NPCA staff and GLSC coordinator, echoed this sentiment, emphasizing the value of experiential learning. “NPCA and our collaborating partners are excited for the opportunity to welcome more students to this year’s Great Lakes Student Conference. It is a unique experiential learning experience for high school students, with subject matter that is essential to our daily lives: The Great Lakes.”
By bringing students directly to the Lake Erie shoreline and engaging them with experts from across the environmental sector, the Great Lakes Student Conference reinforces the importance of education, collaboration, and youth leadership in protecting one of our most vital natural resources.
“We want students to leave this event thinking more about how they can be good stewards of the future, whether that be pursuing an environmental career or simply recognizing what is within their own backyard,” Katy added. “The Great Lakes are complicated ecosystems with their own pressures and challenges, and the more we learn and teach about them, the better equipped we are to adapt and find solutions that benefit everyone.”
This impactful event led by NPCA was made possible through a generous grant from the TD Friends of the Environment Foundation, along with the collaboration of several organizations, including the District School Board of Niagara, Niagara Catholic District School Board, Scales Nature Park, Geosyntec Consultants, Niagara Parks Commission, and Niagara GeoPark.