This week, sophomores from the Met School’s Environmental Leaders program wrapped up an inspiring semester-long project—by getting their hands dirty for the planet.
As part of their journey with the Woonasquatucket River Watershed Council (WRWC), students were challenged to address one of the most visible (and fixable!) threats to our watershed: litter. With guidance from WRWC educators and support from Haley, our stormwater and community education partner, students dove into the science behind litter and runoff—learning how everyday trash can travel from sidewalks and storm drains straight into the Woonasquatucket River.
They didn’t stop at the science. These young leaders created anti-litter signage and marketing materials designed to inspire their peers to take action. They held peer review sessions, shared ideas, and refined their messages to reach a high school audience with clarity and impact.
To celebrate the completion of the project, the group headed out to Riverside Park—not just to admire the river, but to protect it. Together, they collected an entire bag of litter, removing plastic, wrappers, and other waste before it could wash into the river with the next rainstorm.
Why does this matter? Because when it rains in our watershed, runoff carries pollutants like oil, fertilizer, and trash into the river—harming wildlife, dirtying the water, and damaging ecosystems. Birds and fish can become entangled in plastic or mistake it for food, filling their bellies with harmful debris instead of nutrients.
At WRWC, we know real change starts upstream, before trash ever reaches the river. That’s why we’re proud to partner with the Met School and with campaigns like Litter-Free RI to raise awareness, educate our communities, and support the next generation of environmental leaders.
Today, those leaders are high school sophomores—designing signs, cleaning up parks, and teaching their peers how to care for the world around them. We couldn’t be more proud.