In May, a group of Rye Country Day School Upper School students showcased their environmental research and community-based solutions at the Children’s Environmental Literacy Foundation (CELF) Civic Science Student Symposium, at Mercy University in Dobbs Ferry, New York.

The projects were developed throughout the 2025–26 school year as part of CELF’s Civic Science Program, which gives students opportunities to investigate environmental challenges and develop solutions through hands-on learning.

Under the guidance of former Director of STEAM Dr. Cathie Bischoff and Director of Sustainability Kerry Linderoth, students applied for and were awarded two microgrants each to carry out the work. Their initiatives included projects like  “Wildcats for Water,” a rain garden project designed to improve stormwater management on campus; “Close the Loop,” a food waste reduction initiative connected to the School’s ZEUS composting efforts; “Oxyfloat,” an innovative water quality project; and other original biodesign projects exploring sustainable solutions through science and engineering. 

“This program gave our students an opportunity to see how the work they’re doing in the classroom can extend beyond it,” said Ms. Linderoth. “They were able to take their ideas, apply them to real environmental challenges, and share their thinking with a broader community.”

The experience highlighted the critical thinking, collaboration, and creative problem-solving skills students develop through hands-on, interdisciplinary learning at RCDS.

2026 CELF Symposium Projects

• Close the Loop - Eda Buyuk ‘27, Chris Estill ‘28, C.C. Liu ‘28, Maddie Stokes ‘28, Chase Talpins ‘27
• Deer Deterrence Using Lavender Botanicals to Protect Seeds from Deer - Xavier Reilly ‘27
• OXYFLOAT - Josie Choi ‘26, Mei Macintyre ‘26, Caroline Pereira ‘27, Chase Tucker ‘27
• Snow Vault - Aarush Dey ‘27, Peter Valenton ‘27, Luke Werwaiss ‘27
• Urban Bloom - Emmy Liang ‘28 & Natalie Zhu ‘28
• Vegetative Scour Mitigation in Pier Infrastructure - Aarush Dey ‘27
• Wildcats for Water - Mira Browning ‘29 & Emily Hau ‘29