The students of Carl Sandburg Middle School thought globally, but acted locally. With the support of Wheelabrator Technologies, the students designed an environmental education program focusing on the leatherback sea turtle, one of the world's most endangered reptiles.

After researching the natural history of leatherback, the students discovered that there are many immediate threats to its survival. They decided that they would work to educate others about the animal's plight. After 200 hours of work, the students had developed an eight-foot model of a leatherback sea turtle along with a 24-foot backdrop. They have conducted several community outreaches utilizing their leatherback model and have shared their knowledge with several schools, local agencies, businesses, and even a national symposium. The group attended the 21st Annual Sea Turtle Symposium, and used their model to demonstrate new sea turtle tagging techniques.

The students of Carl Sandburg Middle School also created a bilingual website, accessible through www.leatherback.org, called "Just for Kids". The website provides educational information about the leatherback sea turtle through engaging, interactive games. The site also provides updated information about the status of the project.

To further develop their knowledge about leatherback sea turtles, the students are planning to visit their largest known nesting site in Playa Grande, Costa Rica. They plan to establish a partnership with the students of Motopala, Costa Rica. This interaction will provide the students with a local perspective and will also open lines of communication that transcend cultural and political boundaries.