A Brooklyn high school student is working to expand climate education in New York City by bringing hands-on, student-led learning into classrooms.
Charlotte “Lottie” Arnold, a Brooklyn resident, recently earned the NSHSS Foundation Earth Day Scholarship, awarded by the National Society of High School Scholars Foundation to students making a measurable environmental impact in their schools and communities.
Arnold co-founded Advancing Climate Education in School, an after-school program focused on delivering accessible climate education to elementary and middle school students. The initiative builds on her advocacy with the National Wildlife Federation’s Climate Resilience and Education Task Force, where she supported efforts to advance climate education legislation across New York state.
Through ACES, Arnold and a team of high school volunteers lead interactive workshops designed to make complex environmental topics approachable. Lessons cover renewable energy, water pollution and sustainable fashion, with activities that include building solar ovens, creating water filtration systems and experimenting with natural dyes.
“The peer-to-peer model is what makes ACES unique," Arnold said. "From my experience, younger students are more likely to pay attention to high schoolers they look up to than an adult. At the same time, our volunteers develop meaningful leadership and communication skills while deepening their own understanding of climate issues.”
ACES is in its pilot phase and has already reached students in Brooklyn, with plans to expand to schools across all five boroughs.
The NSHSS Foundation, a public charity based in Atlanta, provides scholarships to students from diverse backgrounds pursuing fields tied to economic growth, innovation and ethical leadership. Its programs span disciplines including science, technology, engineering and math, as well as the arts, business, public policy and environmental science.
