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High‑school founder proposes youth conservation programs after Redfish Point development is rescinded
Summary
Zoe Melka, a Canterbury High School senior and founder of Hoop for Help, told the council Cape Coral supports a large population of burrowing owls and proposed youth awards, an eco art contest and volunteer burrow maintenance days; she said a recent development request for Redfish Point was rescinded after public advocacy.
Zoe Melka, a senior at Canterbury High School and founder of the youth nonprofit Hoop for Help, presented to the Cape Coral Youth Council on Feb. 6 about youth leadership in wildlife conservation and proposed several initiatives to connect students with local habitat protection.
Melka said Cape Coral “actually supports the largest population of the Florida burrowing owl anywhere in the world” and explained how active owl burrows are marked and monitored by volunteers. She also highlighted the ecological role of the gopher tortoise and described Redfish Point, a local wetland that had recently been considered for development; Melka said the development request was rescinded after public protests.
Her proposals for youth‑run activities included a youth eco award and scholarship, a youth eco art contest judged by local experts, a youth environmental festival in a city park, and coordinated burrow‑maintenance volunteer days led by Hoop for Help in collaboration with Cape Coral Friends of Wildlife. Melka invited the youth council to partner on future events and suggested adding an environmental category to council awards.
Council members responded positively and discussed possible collaboration with existing city festivals and the council’s next strategic plan. No formal agreements or city actions were taken at the meeting; members agreed to consider environmental projects for the next council term.
