From left, Rock City President and COO Susan Harris; Laniesha Gatewood, LaShaysheion Thomas, Imani Rowe, students; LMC CEO Robyn Carlton; LMC Program Coordinator Ashley Cofield; Keny Rafael-Velasquez, Honesty Suttles, Azia Houser, Hayle Mack, students; Coca-Cola Business Development Manager Tony Killen; and Ruby Falls President Hugh Morrow. Students not pictured: Micah Coleman, DeUnta’ Sailes and Sade Strawter.
Students from the Intern and Leadership Program at The Howard School, in partnership with Lookout Mountain Conservancy, participated in the annual Environmental Summit sponsored by Ruby Falls, Rock City and Coca-Cola.
In the weeks leading up to the event, the students accepted the challenge to create and execute environmentally-focused projects at both attractions. Their completed projects presented at the Summit included a pollinator garden surrounding the bird deck at Rock City, and landscape enhancements including a pollinator garden near the Guild Trail entrance at Ruby Falls. The students explained the steps they took to accomplish each project and the expected positive environmental impact.
The school’s program is nationally recognized for using Lookout Mountain as a classroom to teach critical leadership, academic, social and conservation skills.