EPA and White House recognize Washington State President’s Environmental Youth Awards Winners

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the White House Council on Environmental Quality recently recognized Seattle-area students for their environmental stewardship efforts on behalf of endangered salmon and wolves, announcing them as winners of the President’s Environmental Youth Awards.

Fourth graders from Clear Creek Elementary School, in Kitsap County, worked to increase awareness of salmon and their habitats in the Hood Canal area, devising a salmon mascot that they named Big Redd based on a community vote. Through appearances at schools and events, including salmon stream releases and the annual Seafair Whaling Days parade, Big Redd has helped show the community that salmon are an indicator of a healthy watershed. The students also raised awareness through the a video and a mural.

Story Warren created Kids4Wolves, a project that allows other young people to share in her passion for wolf history, behavior, ecology and impacts on other species. Through the project, Story has created informational videos, triggered letter-writing campaigns and taken part in policy proceedings. Her efforts are focused both on social media and in person, and through Kids4Wolves she hopes to foster interest, education and inspiration amongst her peers.

The President’s Environmental Youth Awards are open to students from kindergarten to 12th grade. The recent awards were presented in a ceremony at the White House.