COLUMBUS, OH – The Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) is seeking high school students to serve as founding members of the Conservation Teen Advisory Council (ConTAC), a new initiative to empower the youth voice. ConTAC is designed to become a statewide network of student-leaders working together to enhance ODNR’s youth outreach and program efforts.
“ConTAC empowers teens to create tangible change in their community and their state,” said ODNR Director Mary Mertz. “Engaging Ohio’s young people is a priority for our department and for the DeWine administration. This is an opportunity for us to learn from smart, passionate high school students about how we can better connect with students statewide.”
Students entering grades ninth through 12th of the 2019-2020 school year who are interested in natural resource conservation, outdoor recreation, wildlife or simply making a positive impact within the Buckeye State are eligible to apply. ConTAC is a great place for students to meet new peers from across the state with similar interests, develop leadership skills and provide outdoor opportunities to youth from the shores of Lake Erie to the rolling hills of Appalachia.
ConTAC members will develop and implement youth-focused strategies, resources, campaigns or events, and work to empower others to enact conservation-focused initiatives in their communities. These students will be expected to spend approximately 10 hours per quarter on ConTAC activities.
A maximum of 30 students can serve on ConTAC at one time, with a maximum of two members per county. ConTAC members will serve one-year terms, and members may serve for a maximum of two terms. Students may serve as a teen ambassador after expiration of their term.
High school students for the 2019-2020 school year interested in ConTAC should apply online at ohiodnr.gov/teens. Applications are due by Friday,