Cassondra Prchlik is a Northwest Ohio native who is very excited to be back in the area communicating the importance of water quality of the Lake Erie Watershed. Filled with a love for adventure and the outdoors, she went to Northern Michigan University studying Environmental Studies and Anthropology, focusing on how we communicate sustainability and biodiversity. While there, she worked as a Native Plant Technician and Co-Manager of an Outdoor Learning Area. After graduating from Northern Michigan University, she worked in Parque Patagonia, Yellowstone National Park, and the Willamette National Forest before completing her Master of Public Administration at Bowling Green State University in 2019. 

Growing up in Northwest Ohio, she was intrigued by the natural beauty of wetlands. Going annually to Magee Marsh for birding since she was five, exposed her to the unique ecosystems and biodiversity in Northwest Ohio. Finding these unique spots in Northwest Ohio had a profound impact on her willingness to explore new areas and consistently learn new things; even though she lives in the area, she travels with a mini-library of plant and bird identification books in the trunk of her car ready to learn more. Some of her interests include bumblebee identification, being active outside, birding, and puns. She is very enthusiastic to combine her love of communications, riparian systems, and puns at Partners for Clean Streams to help spark community actions in cleaning the Lake Erie Watershed.

Don’t want your kids, grandkids, nieces, and nephews missing out on a good Great Lakes education during this time of social distancing? We’ve got you covered! We have collected and will continue to collect fun activities that you can do solo or with your family that are Great Lakes and Northwest Ohio centered. Read on for some great online resources! 

For scientific information and fun colorful activities for all ages about marine debris, NOAA Marine Debris Activities, and Curricula have great activities that are perfect for a Marine Debris centered quarantine day. Click here for NOAA marine debris: Activities and Curricula 

If you are looking for curricula that is more structured, Ohio Sea Grant has made their educational resources available. These resources are from Stone Laboratory and The Center for Great Lakes Literacy. With fun labs and activities, it is a great hands-on experience of the Great Lakes from home. Click here for Ohio Sea Grant: Ohio Educators Resource

The Great Lakes Alliances weekly webinars from on Monday morning at 9:30 am are family-friendly and a great way to add some structure to the week. They are running 8 webinars starting April 6. Click here for more information:  H.O.M.E.School

For our master gardeners, conservation agencies and organizations, stormwater professionals, and landscape companies and consultants, the University of Purdue extension have created a 5-part webinar series on landscape design tailored to absorb stormwater runoff (e.g., rain gardens). For more information please click:  University Rainscaping Education Program

The Green Ribbon Initiative’s (GRI) Blue Week is going virtual this year! Participate in virtual educational programs for adults and kids, regional experts, and DIY adventures and contests, give you an opportunity to learn about the unique natural features of Northwest Ohio and Southeast Michigan! Blue Week highlights the connection between land, water, and wildlife. We all need healthy habitats and soil for healthy water. These events start May 11th and last through May 16th and winners of the prizes will be announced May 20th. For more information please visit: Blue Week 2020- Virtual Exploration

We are currently living in an era of mass consumerism and single-use items but it doesn’t have to stay that way! According to the EPA in 2013, Americans, on average, produced roughly five pounds of trash per day. That is nearly a ton of trash per year per person, and that number is growing. 

The key is not just recycling, but also reducing. Being aware of what you throw away and what you purchase can make all the difference. If you’re going out to eat make sure to throw a Tupperware dish or two in your backseat and take it in with you in a reusable bag. Shop at resale stores or church rummage sales for new clothing options; I’ve found brand new name brand clothes at both (and do not forget your reusable bags to put your new-to-you items in). Buy in bulk as it uses less packaging. Learn how to make coffee at home; there are plastic or wax liners inside most coffee shop cups that look to be paper but are not recyclable. We also challenge you to challenge yourself to keep track of what you use for a month and then review how you can change your routine. Using less single-use or disposable items will leave less opportunity that those items could become marine debris. Recent cleanups have found food wrappers as one of the top items removed from our waterways. See the example tracker that you can easily make to keep track of your disposable item usage. If you discover a waste reduction strategy that works really well for you, please let us know!