Representing the only Ocean Guardian School in New York, APW’s Conservation Club recently attended the Lake Ontario National Marine Sanctuary Dedication Ceremony, held at the William S. Cahill Pier in Oswego.

Invited by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), club members joined government officials, community members, and NOAA representatives to celebrate this historic occasion.

The designation of Lake Ontario as the 19th Marine Sanctuary in the United States—and the first in New York waters—signifies a commitment to preserving its rich maritime history. According to NOAA, the sanctuary encompasses Eastern Lake Ontario and consists of “an extraordinary collection of 41 known shipwrecks and one known submerged aircraft, among the best preserved in the world.”

Led by advisor Jessica Halsey, the APW Conservation Club has been dedicated to promoting environmental stewardship through school and community-based projects. Their commitment to protecting local watersheds, oceans and marine sanctuaries has earned them designation as an official NOAA Ocean Guardian School for the fourth year in a row.

Halsey expressed hope that Lake Ontario’s new status as a National Marine Sanctuary would inspire more New York schools to join the Ocean Guardian School program. “Our presence at this ceremony is to show local districts the positive impact this program can have,” she said. “We’re teaching our youth to be responsible environmental stewards while directly contributing to the preservation of our local watersheds.”

For more information on NOAA’s Ocean Guardian School program, https://sanctuaries.noaa.gov/education/ocean_guardian/welcome.html