The Corsica River waterfront provided a quiet backdrop to a day of big ideas and active service as Gunston celebrated Earth Day. Though the global holiday falls on April 22, Gunston held its events a day early to accommodate athletic schedules, ensuring that every student could participate in the full slate of workshops and service projects without missing a beat.

Students stepped into leadership roles to teach their peers about everything from emerging technology to the traditional arts of the Chesapeake. Ellie Roberts ’28, Addi Temple ’28, and Kayla Wallenfelsz ’28 led a timely session on the environmental impacts of AI, challenging classmates to consider the energy costs of the digital world. Nearby, Arlo Badger ’26 navigated the specifics of carbon footprints, while Nooné Topjian ’28 and MaLou Trinkner ’28 explored the science of sustainable cooking. These student-led talks ran alongside sessions with staff and visiting experts, including Tony Friedrich’s (Parent 2027)  briefing on fisheries policy and Michael Borland’s (Parent 2022 & 2027) work on the Natural Lands Project.

Jack Houseknecht ’27 and Jemima Shank s’26 facilitated a deep dive into environmental law, while Annabelle Baker ’27 and Eamon Schopfer ’27 hosted an eco-poetry session by the Middleton flagpole. From the world of tall ship captains to the science of oyster recycling with Natalie Edelen ’27 and Sydney Cummings ’28, students had the opportunity to choose the environmental path that resonated most with them.

In the afternoon, the focus shifted toward active exploration of the school’s extensive 75-acres of land.The waterfront was a hub of movement, featuring fishing on the pier and expeditions to document local wildlife. Students gathered on the steps of Everdell for leaf imprinting, practiced nature yoga with Emery Day ’26, and experimented with solar photography prints.

The day concluded with a collective push for stewardship. Using the full scale of the campus, students and staff fanned out for essential service projects. Lilly Showalter and Elena Szwaja ’27 led efforts in the campus gardens, while other teams worked on trail clearing, invasive species removal, and a comprehensive trash pickup along the campus perimeter and surrounding roadsides.

This hands-on leadership is the hallmark of a Gunston education. Whether it is a single day of action like Earth Day, the immersive deep-dives of Chesapeake Bay Studies, or the semester-long intensity of the Chesapeake Watershed Semester, these programs prepare students to be the stewards our region needs.

To help sustain this vital environmental programming and ensure the next generation of leaders is ready to protect our watershed, please consider making a donation at https://www.gunston.org/give.Your support directly fuels the experiences that turn students into advocates!