The Peru Gazette

Miner Institute is teaching students how to test drinking water

Karley Tourville, Kaysha Korth, Melina Mitchell, Violette Surman, and Oliver Hurd are members of the Students Against a Vanishing Environment Club

By John T. Ryan

The Peru High School gym is bustling with activity from Tuesday to Thursday this week as 1,200 students participate in Earth Fest 2025. Sixteen environmental education and student organizations are on hand to answer questions, distribute literature, and conduct hands-on learning activities.

The school club Students Against a Vanishing Environment hosts the event under the guidance of teacher Greg Badger. Karley Tourville explained, “Our organization is trying to assist the school with composting and maintaining the gardens. We organize clean-up days.” Kayshn Korth added, “Some people don’t respect the environment. Often, there’s a lot of trash left on the school grounds that we can help clean up.” Club President Violette Furman stated, “We’re trying to educate younger students. Some spectators at football games don’t seem to care.” Melina Mitchell emphasized, “Sometimes high school events look like a trash bowl. Educating our youth is essential for the future. We’re doing what we can to empower them.”

Organizations represented at the event include the Clinton County Soil & Water Conservation Department, Casella, the Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC), the Lake Champlain Basin Program, Compost For Good, the Wild Center’s Youth Climate Program, Lake Champlain Sea Grant, Miner Institute, the North Country Clean Energy Hub, the Ausable Freshwater Center, Clinton/Essex Cornell Cooperative Extension, the Clinton County Health Department, the Adirondack Watershed Institute, the Adirondack Mountain Club, and the Point Au Roche Nature Center.

Student groups involved include Students Against a Vanishing Environment, the National Art Honor Society, the National Honor Society, the High School Student Leadership Group, the Environmental Science Class, the Elementary Student Leadership Group, the Elementary Media Club, the Butterfly Effect Club, and the Science National Honor Society.

4/17/25 Correction – Violette Furman is Club President, not Karley Tourville as initially stated.