Youth campers grow as scientists and environmental advocates at Planet Protectors Summer Camp.
Sodus Middle School students made a real impact on the health of Sodus Bay and Lake Ontario this July through the 2025 Planet Protectors Sodus Summer Camp, a weeklong program designed to empower young people to tackle real-world environmental challenges.
Under the guidance of Ƶ’s Warner School of Education and Human Development faculty members April Luehmann and Zenon Borys, along with graduate students training to become teachers, 17 youth campers explored issues such as plastic pollution, invasive species, and water quality. This year, camp welcomed Ƶ undergraduate students from various disciplines—all united by a shared commitment to environmental stewardship—who also worked closely with and mentored the Sodus students.
“The authenticity of the environmental challenges invited us to work collaboratively to both understand the current situation at Sodus Bay and take action,” says Luehmann, associate professor and director of the at the Warner School. “Youth used science to make a difference in their community.”
The community came together in Sodus on July 31 to celebrate these young advocates and learn about their projects firsthand. The following day, August 1, students and scholars gathered for the Ƶ Summer Experiential Learning in Science Labs & Communities Poster Fair in LeChase Hall on the University’s River Campus. Co-hosted by the Warner School, the , and the Center for Sustainability, the poster event showcased how Ƶ students are advancing science through hands-on research and community engagement.
The Planet Protectors Sodus Summer Camp helps middle school students dive into authentic investigations of pressing science issues and equips them to share their findings with the public through impactful media strategies—skills not often taught in the classroom. The camp is part of Get Real! Science program, an innovative teacher preparation program created by Luehmann to engage students in meaningful, real-world science experiences, including the Science STARS (Students Tackling Authentic and Relevant Science) afterschool program and more.