Inside IJ Holton Intermediate School, more than 70 students showed off their smarts while learning more about how to help Mother Nature.

Wednesday afternoon was Project E3’s Summer Celebration. Akin to a science fair, students who were enrolled in the program over the summer had a chance to show off their science savvy by presenting projects and experiments that focused on various aspects of engineering and environmental sciences.

Everything from water conservation to testing waterways to studying invertebrates and designing water filtration systems, students in grades 4,5 and 6, shared what they’ve learned over the summer.

There were three main topics students explored: water, habitat and conservation (whether it’d be nature or energy). Students had the chance to showcase leaves that were collected and they’ve identified while out on nature hikes and testing water samples. There was even a display where students wrote letters to President Donald Trump about environmental issues they were concerned about.

Project E3 is an inter-district enrichment program for students generally from the Austin, Albert Lea and Hayfield school districts. For some, this opportunity helped develop an interest in the environment as well as finding solutions for challenges that may be encountered out on the field. Ayden Evenson, 12, and a sixth grader, shared that he was most intrigued by the study of invertebrates, as well as decreasing the impact of global warming.

“My first year (in Project E3) I was very scared,” Evenson explained. “But after time, I started warming up to people, and it’s been probably the best time of my life. I made new friends. It’s not boring, and you go into projects head-on on how we’re going to save our Earth.”

When Dion Dowell, 12, was told about the Project E3 summer session, his mother had told him about the engineering aspect of the program, which drew him to signing up for the camp because of his love for video games. He’s been in Project E3 for all three years, and explained that he hoped to explore a future in engineering where he can use virtual games to help the environment in some way.

“I love the teachers, they were fun,” Dowell said. “I loved going coning, and I’m able to tell my parents about it. They’re thinking about getting a canoe now and going on the river.”

Suzette Vigil Sanchez, 12, also enjoyed the field trips she got to on, and finding fossils. She was raised by family members to respect nature and to ensure that nothing was put into the environment that may be harder to clean later on.

“My dad and I do community service projects like cleaning nature,” Vigil Sanchez said. “It’s nasty. Project E3 is fun and the teachers are awesome.”

Arik Anderson, a Project E3 Lead teacher, said that Project E3 had seen an increase in participation during the last few years and had around 80 students participating

in the program. Working with four other educators and being able to work with students in a smaller classroom setting, while exposing them to educational opportunities with more in-depth instruction on how humans have an impact on the environment they live in.

“It’s so fun to be part of a culture where kids love to learn,” Anderson beamed. “I love it. It’s a great thing where the students are thinking that learning things is fun.”