Amid the hustle and bustle of high school life, a dedicated group of students at Grosse Pointe South work to preserve Michigan’s natural treasures. By raising awareness for environmental issues and engaging in service projects, South’s Save the Lakes Club contributes to the wellbeing of the water we all enjoy.

While the club focuses on a variety of environmental issues, ranging from plastic pollution to fast fashion, co-presidents Morgan Deenik, Hannah Przybylski and Emily Przybylski all ‘24 said they particularly aim to raise awareness about the Great Lakes.

“We try to focus on how the lakes and bodies of water in general are impacted, because we live in Michigan and obviously have lakes all around us,” Deenik said.

Throughout the past few years, the club’s mission has extended beyond the classroom walls. Hannah Przybylski said the group has participated in several projects, including recycling Kroger plastic bags to later be crocheted mats, as well as many beach cleanups at Belle Isle. Sometimes, the group steers away from preservation projects and work to benefit other communities.

“Right now, we’re trying to do a candy drive of leftover Halloween candy to send to soldiers who couldn’t be home,” Przybylski said.

Along with the candy drive, the club is planning additional beach cleanups to ensure Belle Isle is clear of debris that can harm marine life and ecosystems.

“We’re pretty informal and people can join at any time,” Emily Przybylski said. “We are always taking new members, and it’s very fun and beneficial to the community and environment.”