08/04/2026
Meet Ben Obiechina. A student and graduate of the FreshWater Institute. Not only has he deeply engaged with the environment, but he also has quite the creative writing skills! You can read more of his story on teachcle.org but here's a snippet:
"From researching water temperatures at Kelley’s island, to shadowing at Cleveland Metroparks, this program allowed me to go deeper into not just my understanding of Lake Erie, and water in general, but of the industries that thrive on it. There are a multitude of opportunities in energy, in trade, in marine exploration and study, even in having fun, that the lake generously provides. And all we need to do is unlock it.
Throughout my time here as a Fresh Water Fellow, I’ve been introduced to new people, new experiences, new memories, and things that genuinely fueled my passion for not just this lake, but for environmental advocacy overall. It’s shaped me in ways beyond continued participation in the program. I’ve been more heavily involved in my school’s environmental club, eventually becoming it’s leader. I’ve been to numerous summits, community cleanup events, and tree plantings, even taking part in flower sales that promoted the importance of native pollinator plants in our environment. And I plan to continue my environmental journey in the future. And it’s programs like these and experiences like mine that prove young people are ready to come to the table."
