St. Ursula Academy senior Lily Schwartz is one of three young members of the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) Conservation Teen Advisory Council (ConTAC) who shared their passion for preserving and protecting Ohio’s waters with the Great Lakes Commission at its annual meeting on Nov. 19, 2020. 

Schwartz and the other high school students selected to serve on ConTAC “act as the voice of Ohio’s youth to ODNR and help expand the reach, impact, and quality of the agency’s youth initiatives. Members develop innovative and practical ideas that empower young people to protect and preserve Ohio’s natural resources, provide feedback, and make recommendations to enhance outdoor outreach. Council members also get the chance to explore careers in the natural resources sector and develop valuable networking and leadership skills,” according to the Commission. 
 
For Schwartz, her sailing hobby led to a passion for conservation. “I think by introducing people to the beauty and wonder of Lake Erie at a young age, you can instill a passion for keeping it clean,” Schwartz said. “My dream for the lake is to eliminate plastic pollution and keep it clear for everyone who wants to spend time on the water,” she said.

Schwartz, an Ottawa Hills resident, is the daughter of Courtney Dunbar and John Schwartz.