Senior Is an EarthEcho Marine Plastics Ambassador

Senior Jack Benson worked to inform the community about the impact of plastics in their communities during a recent event at the Griffin Museum of Science and Industry.

Benson has always been passionate about the natural world around him. He has held seven teen positions at the Lincoln Park Zoo and got involved with EarthEco International in May 2024 when they accepted him into their Marine Plastics Ambassadors program.

Following his initial training period, Benson began working on CLEAR (Creating Lasting Environmental Awareness and Reduction) Chicago in September. CLEAR Chicago focuses on informing families and children about the effect of plastic in their local communities and encouraging them to change their interactions with plastic and notice it in their local natural spaces.

As part of an Earth Day event at the Griffin Museum of Science and Industry, Benson had an opportunity to lead student groups through a hands-on activity to share more about plastic in local waterways and devices that are helping to stop plastic from flowing down river. He encouraged kids to build their own devices using craft materials and test them using a river model and marbles to represent the plastic. As an extra challenge, he asked participants to consider local wildlife and make a plastic-catching tool that might allow fish species to pass through.

More than 150 guests took part in this activity that day—a resounding success. Twelve of Benson’s Parker peers joined two teachers from the school’s Environmental Club to support him at this event.

Benson welcomes all who are interested in helping to make a difference in the local community to join him in a beach cleanup event at 57th Street Beach this Sunday, May 4 from 12 to 2 p.m. 

Congratulations to Benson on this most recent event; Parker looks forward to many more to follow. Benson will attend Drake University next year with plans to major in zoo and c conservation science. He shared, “My dream since I was young was to be a zookeeper, and I am still pursuing that in full force. My life will involve the conservation and protection of our world, and I am really excited that I got to share some of that with the Parker community.”

Enjoy photos from Benson’s event at MSI here.