By Lowell Collins, Youth Grants Committee
The Ozark Society Youth Grant Program gets a few proposals every year submitted by students. Some of the most interesting and unique projects are those that are developed and led by the students themselves. The following are some interesting examples.
Fayetteville High School’s eco-Fashion Club came up with a great idea to keep textiles out of landfills. The club gets a lot of donations in the form of clothes and other textiles. Most of the donations are used for projects like upcycling, pop-up markets, and clothing swaps. But some textiles couldn’t be put to good use. In order to recycle the unusable textiles, the club used a textile recycling business that requires the material to be submitted in Retold Recycle bags which each have a cost. The Ozark Society grant funded the purchase of 10 Retold Recycle bags to divert these unusable textiles from landfills and give them a second life. Throughout the year, students were able to fill the bags with textiles and project scraps that would have ended up in the landfill. To keep this program going, they’ve used the money from their pop-up markets to buy additional bags.
The forestry class at Salem R80 High School wanted to do something in honor of National Public Lands Day, 22.
They investigated the area and learned of the historical and environmental significance of the Ozark chinquapin. They chose a project at Pulltite Campground for a hands-on conservation project. Under the guidance of Steve Bost from the Ozark Chinquapin Foundation, the students planted 10 native Ozark Chinquapin trees along the edges of the campground. This initiative not only contributed to the restoration of a crucial tree species but also fostered a sense of environmental stewardship among the students.
A group of students from Bentonville Old High Middle School, noticed an overgrown flower bed out the science room window. They decided to turn it into a beautiful nature-friendly garden. They did some research and came up with a plan to support the Diana Fritillary, the state butterfly of Arkansas. They teamed up with the NW Arkansas Master Naturalist to get their garden started. They solicited a donation of soil and other garden materials from Lowe’s. The students wrote a proposal to the Ozark Society to get funding for signs and a walking path in the garden. It was so rewarding to see the excitement and sense of ownership on the students’ faces when they found out their proposal was approved! As an aside, the flagpole base near the garden, includes the name of Neil Compton, the founder of the Ozark Society.
These youth-led projects are all about encouraging students to take initiative and create projects that make a positive difference in their community and the environment. A successful grant application affirms their vision and effort. We hope that this experience will inspire them to keep leading social and environmental change throughout their lives.
Engaging the next generation in conservation is one of the ways the Ozark Society is fulfilling its mission of conservation and education. You can support the Youth Grant Fund when you renew your membership or make a donation at: