Peekskill Students "Connect to the Oceans" for 20th Annual Wheelabrator Symposium for Environment and Education

Students from Peekskill Middle School will study the impact of urban and industrial development on the health of the Hudson River and will organize a Spring waterfront cleanup in Peekskill as part of the 2014 Wheelabrator Symposium for Environment and Education.  Renewable energy provider Wheelabrator Technologies is partnering with third-generation ocean explorer Fabien Cousteau to celebrate the 20th anniversary of this innovative educational program, which has inspired thousands of middle school students to become environmental leaders in their communities.

The theme of the 2014 Wheelabrator Symposium, “Connecting to the Oceans,” is designed to engage students in research, scientific study and community projects linking the quality of the local environment to the health of the seas around us.

Under educators’ guidance and with the resources and support of Hampton, N.H.-based Wheelabrator and the local community, student teams at 15 participating schools from across the Northeast, Mid-Atlantic and Florida regions will identify an environmental issue in their communities and then develop and implement long-term solutions.

For their 2014 Symposium project, Peekskill Middle School students plan to examine the effect that growing urbanization, industrialization and development has had on the Hudson River Estuary Watershed and how these activities over time have altered water quality and ecosystems around Peekskill as well as the New York Harbor area. The students also will be organizing a cleanup along the Hudson later this Spring. Their efforts will be supported by employees from the Wheelabrator Westchester plant in Peekskill.

“The 20th anniversary of the Wheelabrator Symposium is a milestone that is truly worth commemorating, and I am thrilled to be a part of a program that recognizes the importance of environmental stewardship and encourages innovative thinking among young people,” said Cousteau, first grandson of legendary explorer Jacques-Yves Cousteau. “I commend Wheelabrator and its employees for providing middle school students with the resources and opportunities to become active environmental leaders in their communities.”

As part of the program, students will follow Cousteau and his team during Mission 31, a month-long research mission in the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary aboard Aquarius, the only underwater marine habitat and lab in the world. Students will also be able to participate in online science sessions on ocean conservation led by renowned scientists.

“This program underscores Wheelabrator’s long-standing dedication to sustainability and helps to ensure a future where the environment benefits from the next generation’s balanced decision-making, ground-breaking ideas and community outreach,” Cousteau said. “I look forward to sharing my enthusiasm for the environment from Aquarius with the students during Mission 31.”

Peekskill Middle School students will travel to South Florida in May to present their project to a panel of Wheelabrator employees, educators and environmental experts at the annual 4-day Symposium, which is expected to draw 150 students from participating schools. Cousteau will serve as a guest speaker at the Symposium’s 20th anniversary celebration. Past student projects have covered a diverse array of environmental issues, including air quality, the impact of climate change and wildlife habitat preservation.

Over the past two decades, the Wheelabrator Symposium has empowered more than 3,000 middle school students throughout the U.S. to create innovative solutions to environmental issues, become leaders in their communities, and build their interest in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) concepts. Because of their involvement in the Symposium, a number of students have gone on to pursue environmental-related degrees and careers.

“Our commitment to sustainability goes beyond our day-to-day operations and includes corporate social responsibility programs designed to foster environmental awareness, education and active community engagement,” said Mark Weidman, president of Wheelabrator Technologies. “For 20 years, the Wheelabrator Symposium for Environment and Education has been a cornerstone of our efforts to help build sustainable communities and inspire the next generation of environmental leaders. We applaud the work of our employees on this program and we look forward to following Fabien Cousteau on his pioneering Mission 31 exploration this year.”

The Double Tree by Hilton Hotel Sunrise – Sawgrass Mills is a partner sponsor of the Symposium event, providing the accommodations for the anniversary celebration, set to be held in Broward County, Fla. the week of May 5, 2014.