Flint, Michigan – Earth Day in Flint carried a deeper lesson this year, one that moved beyond posters, classroom talks, and simple reminders to protect the planet. For students at Southwestern Academy, the message came alive along the Flint River, where science, community service, and environmental care all met in one hands-on experience.
The City of Flint recognized the work of its Water Pollution Control Department, whose staff helped lead the day’s activities in partnership with the Flint River Watershed Coalition and Flint Community Schools. The effort was part of Project Green, a statewide environmental education program designed to connect students with the natural world around them.
Guided by Environmental Compliance Supervisor Tiffany Minder and members of the WPC team, students released salmon hatchlings they had been raising in their classroom since the fall. The small fish entered the river as part of a larger lesson about aquatic life, clean water, and the role young people can play in protecting local ecosystems.
The students also stepped into the role of field scientists. They tested the river’s water for oxygen, nitrogen, phosphorus, and bacteria, learning how each measure helps tell the story of a waterway’s health. They also searched for macroinvertebrates, tiny aquatic organisms that can reveal important clues about water conditions. Finding pollution-intolerant species offered encouraging signs about the Flint River’s condition.
Their work continued at Mott Park, where students joined a cleanup along the river and helped remove litter from the area. The activity gave them a direct way to care for a place many residents know, use, and value.
“Our goal is to show students that Flint is doing important work to protect both our drinking water and our natural resources,” said Minder. “When they see the science firsthand and understand the role they can play, that message carries far beyond the classroom.”
The City of Flint said its Water Pollution Control staff monitors surface water quality throughout the year and continues to see strong results from ongoing environmental protection efforts.
Through programs such as Project Green, Flint is working to build knowledge, pride, and responsibility among young residents. The lesson was simple but powerful: protecting the river starts with understanding it, and the next generation is already getting involved.