The Conservation Commission has announced the recipients of the first annual Conservation Leadership Award. This award is given to Newtown students chosen for their dedication in protecting our wildlife and natural resources.

The 2020 Conservation Leadership Award goes to Clare Danner and Ella Rosen for their work in cleaning up litter at a local stream and for reminding the community, with letters to The Newtown Bee, that it is everyone’s responsibility to pitch in to remove trash and litter wherever it may be, to always recycle, and to use reusable bags and bottles to protect wildlife and make the world a better place. Clare and Ella were each presented virtually with a Conservation Leadership Certificate at the January 12 Conservation Commission virtual meeting.

In a statement, the commissioners said: [We] believe Clare and Ella are an inspiration to us all. We know there are other students who are helping to make a difference and the Conservation Commission would like to recognize these individuals for their efforts. We look forward to hearing from students of all ages in the coming year and their projects that help protect the environment, whether it be cleaning up your neighborhood, planting a pollinator garden, or writing about issues that affect us and our threatened wildlife. For more information about the award, please contact hkocet325@yahoo.com or dawn.fried@newtown-ct.gov.