Real environmental stewardship is about investing in the next generation of local leaders. This summer, Friends of the St. Clair River welcomed undergraduate intern Simon Conover to the team. Sponsored through the Michigan Sea Grant internship program, Simon is spending his summer doing vital field science in his home community, showing how place-based youth education leaves a lasting impact.
The Spark: A Fifth-Grade Sturgeon Cruise
Growing up with a love for the outdoors, Simon found his career direction during his classroom’s 5th-grade lake sturgeon presentation from friends of the St. Clair River, and he attended the sturgeon science cruise. After competing against hundreds of students in the lake sturgeon poster contest for the annual Blue Water Sturgeon Festival, his artwork was selected as a winner. Earning him a top spot.
The Friends of the St. Clair River’s unique Sturgeon Science Cruise program, supported by GLRI funding, introduces local students directly to the Great Lakes prehistoric fish that call the St. Clair River home. On that cruise, learning how humans have impacted/polluted the river and watching field biologists handle large lake sturgeon left a permanent impression.
“I saw people doing actual conservation work right where I lived,” Simon recalls. “Knowing there were real, practical careers dedicated to protecting these resources made me realize exactly what I wanted to do when I grew up.”
Bridging School to Conservation Today
After graduating from St. Clair County Community College (SC4) this past spring with his Associate of Science degree, Simon went straight into his summer internship. As a data-driven organization, Friends of the St. Clair River relies on internship programs to deliver respected, trustworthy data that supports local agencies and protects public well-being.
Simon’s day-to-day summer projects prioritize clean water through pollution prevention projects, volunteer engagement, and invasive plant removal.
● Mapping River Health: Partnering with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Simon spent a week conducting freshwater native mussel surveys in the Black River. Mussels serve as natural water filters that are highly sensitive to pollution. Mapping their populations allows researchers to track water quality trends against historical data from the 1980s, directly helping to understand where stream protection or restoration efforts are needed.
● Maintaining Parks: Simon regularly helps with weekly volunteer stewardship activities in local parks. During these activities, he instructs volunteers how to identify and remove aggressive, choking invasive plants like garlic mustard and thistle from these special parks and trails.
● Shoreline Cleanup: He has actively contributed to phragmites reduction and native shoreline planting in Cottrellville Township, utilizing deep-rooted native flowers to protect their St. Clair River shoreline park.
Environmental Education Full Circle
Simon is currently gaining invaluable field experience while saving his internship earnings to transfer to Michigan Technological University, where he plans to complete his bachelor’s degree in Wildlife Ecology and Conservation. Before his summer wrap-up, he will assist federal biologists on a freshwater native mussel relocation project near Lansing. Moving mussels to a safer location ahead of a river construction project protects these rare and imperiled species.
Simon’s story highlights why dedicated Great Lakes funding matters. When we invest federal dollars in place-based education programs for youth, we are not just teaching a classroom lesson; we are training the future biologists and field scientists. The future of our water is in very good hands with Simon and others like him!
