Adela’s project consists of QR codes on kiosk signs around the La Crosse River Marsh, inviting trail users to learn more about the area surrounding the kiosk. Her goal was to help community members recognize the importance of marshes, specifically the habitat they provide and the role they play as the planet heats up due to global warming. The QR codes link to the Friends of the Marsh web pages that include videos produced by young people and other informational resources about the marsh and trail history.

Aditi wrote and published a children's book. She distributed donated copies of the book to La Crosse elementary and middle schools and conducted reading sessions with elementary classes. The book describes ways youth can get involved in climate action and introduces them to rising technologies that are making a difference in the field of climate change.

Downtown Mainstreet Inc./Andrew Ericson (age 24)

Andrew and Quinn’s project installed 20 new bike racks in downtown La Crosse. The project was an effort to improve bike parking downtown to increase regular placement and access to popular destinations. The project’s goal was to help the city realize potential gains in mode share and carbon reduction that new infrastructure upgrades can provide. The team collaborated with other youth bicyclists to identify the best bike rack installation locations. They then worked with the city to create a plan including cost estimates, rack delivery, and installation. Once installed, they worked to promote the newly installed bike racks using their personal and organizational social media accounts.

La Crosse Film Academy
Ella LeDocq (age 22) & Mahlivanh Fleckenstein (age 22)

Emily and Benjamin’s project was to plan and plant two pollinator gardens on Viterbo University’s campus. These gardens attract and support native pollinators and promote biodiversity. The plants selected offer an array of flowering plants. The bloom times differ throughout the seasons and provide a continuous food source for pollinating animals such as bees, butterflies, and moths. Emily and Benjamin’s objective was to create a more authentic natural American Landscape, a goal of the La Crosse CAP, and increase awareness on campus of the importance of native species while educating the students about how we can interact and live with nature.

Ever and the La Crosse Central High School’s Environmental Club planted pollinator hedgerows at the new hospital farm space. Hedgerows suppress weeds, attract beneficial insects, stabilize soil, improve water quality, and reduce wind damage. The group purchased the hedgerow plants, prepared the planting area, and planted the hedgerows. The hospital farm aims to educate the community about healthy eating and the links between agriculture, human health, and environmental health, by growing a diversity of vegetables with regenerative organic methods.

Hannah and Kaitlyn’s Reclaimed Draft Blockers project address energy efficiency and sustainability in the local community by teaching a class on making draft blockers from reclaimed fabric. They hosted a class for 15 people at the La Crosse Public Library’s creation station where participants made draft blockers to use in their homes. Draft blockers help reduce energy costs and improve home warmth during the winter, particularly in low-income and rented households. The project, in collaboration with Cia Siab, Inc., focused on the Hmong community to provide accessible, culturally relevant resources. They coordinated with Cia Siab, Inc. and other local organizations to gather reclaimed fabric and filler materials. They also distributed 50 additional draft blockers through Cia Siab, Inc. and other local organizations to low-income households.

Kaarina helped the La Crosse Youth Symphony Concert (LYSO) to reduce waste. Their first goal was to limit paper waste by printing the programs and posters for their Fall Concert on recycled paper and purchasing reusable 100% post-consumer waste recycled folders for the musicians’ music. Their second goal was to reduce waste at their post-concert reception. They mixed beverages themselves instead of buying plastic bottles for refreshments, and they used compostable plates and cups that were collected and composted at a local youth 4-H farm.

Kallie worked on the Logan Middle School Rain Garden Project. This project addresses critical stormwater management issues and enhanced environmental sustainability on school grounds. The primary goals of the project are to manage stormwater runoff, improve water quality, and support local biodiversity through the installation of a rain garden. The rain garden captures and filters runoff, reducing flooding and preventing soil erosion. This aligns with the city’s goal to enhance stormwater infrastructure to handle severe weather and utilize green infrastructure to manage runoff.

The garden also decreases impervious surfaces and increases green space, helping to mitigate heat island effects and support local pollinators through the inclusion of native plants, contributing to the city’s goal of increasing pollinator-friendly spaces.

The rain garden serves as an outdoor classroom, providing students with hands-on learning opportunities about environmental stewardship and sustainability.

Meenan integrated traditional Hmong medicinal practices with climate action by planting ginkgo trees, which are used for their healing properties. This project increases the community's access to natural medicinal resources and promotes the preservation of Hmong cultural heritage and traditional knowledge. Hmong elders often lack the resources and suitable spaces to grow ginkgo trees, which are vital for their traditional medicinal practices, leading to a loss of cultural knowledge and practices. Planting ginkgo trees also increased urban green spaces and provided training to teach the Hmong community stewardship of trees. The project helps to improve air quality and sequester carbon dioxide contributing to climate change mitigation. Involving Hmong youth in the planting and care of ginkgo trees fostered environmental stewardship, leadership skills, and community engagement. This project strengthened community bonds, and empowered the younger generation with knowledge of traditional Hmong uses of ginkgo trees, creating a sense of ownership and pride in their cultural and environmental contributions.