FunGIS Metal Removal Project — Youth Project Lead

Can fungi clean a river?

The FunGIS Metal Removal Project tests whether fungi can remove contaminants — including heavy metals — from Minnesota River sediment. Crews grow mycelium through the sediment: the mycelium takes in the contaminants — heavy metals included — and processes them, and the crew tracks how well it works, learning whether mycology can become one of the river's cleanup tools.

As Youth Project Lead, you will help plan workdays, brief and organize the crew, keep track of what the mycelium takes in and processes, and make sure the project record shows the difference the crew made. You will work with an Adult Project Advisor who handles the adult safety and logistics responsibilities; your job is to lead the crew and the work.

The Green Crew is a youth-led science-based environmental leadership and conservation service program, and a proud program of the Minnesota Valley Chapter of the Izaak Walton League of America. Open to youth ages 14 to 20. Field work builds on the Green Crew's Sunday project days (12:00–4:00 PM), plus a few planning hours a month.