The Florida Everglades once carried water, moving as a wide “river of grass” that stretched nearly 100 miles from Lake Okeechobee to Florida Bay. The natural flow has since been redirected, with much of the water reconfigured through canals and development. 

For communications junior Lyra Radashkevich, what began as a personal appreciation for the natural spaces around her developed into an active role in conservation. She now serves as president of Surface71, a student-led 501 (c)(3) nonprofit, meaning it is recognized as a tax-exempt organization and is eligible to receive charitable donations and funding. The organization has received funding through initiatives such as Philanthropy Tank and West Palm Beach’s Global Youth Climate Initiative.  

“I have always loved nature,” Radashkevich said. “I have been raised as a literal tree hugger.”

Her connection to Florida’s environment began at a “young age” and was shaped by repeated exposure to natural spaces and wildlife.

“My mom tells me when I was a baby, she would take me for a walk around our condos and put my hand up to the tree and be like, ‘Okay, Lyra, this is tree bark,’” Radashkevich said. “(She) taught me about nature, even as a baby.” 

Through adventures including family bike rides, those experiences flourished into a deeper awareness of the environment around her. 

“We would go through this intense nature,” Radashkevich said. “We’d see tortoises, bobcats, raccoons, squirrels, and snakes regularly. I was just always immersed in nature, which gave me such a deep appreciation for it.” 

That familiarity stayed with her as she got older, making environmental changes more noticeable, according to Radashekvich. As the landscape around her shifted, it impacted how she understood what she had been seeing all along. 

“When I saw it (the environment) gone for the first time, I began to become more socially aware of things,” she said. “I stopped being a little kid and started to learn how the world works. I realized that nature is something I value, and it’s fading.”

Surface71 is dedicated to marine conservation by reducing single-use plastic pollution. The organization has a twofold mission: to broaden access to clean water and preserve waterways across Florida. Surface71, which began in 2018, has saved thousands of plastic water bottles by installing water refill stations across 15 locations.

“It all starts with water, because if you don’t have water, you don’t have life,” Radashkevich said. “Humans need water for everything: toilets, laundry machines, dishwashers. To conserve (water) made me realize: ‘Wow, this is something I feel not enough people are thinking about.’”

In Florida, that concern is tied directly to how the landscape has been shaped over time. The way water moves through the state today reflects years of development and redirection. Over time, canals were built and land was developed for housing, disrupting how that water flows and where it ends up. To Radashkevich, by “forcibly” redirecting water in altered ways, keeping the water in rivers, lakes, and wetlands has become a “difficult” effort, affecting both human survival and the ecosystems in Florida.

“If you look at old maps, it’s all swamp and moving rivers,” Radashkevich said. “We have changed the course of that so much, whether it be through canal construction, or just paving over to make homes, that the little water we have left is not able to flow the way it’s meant to.”

During the COVID-19 pandemic, she spent more time outdoors with her family, particularly at MacArthur Beach State Park, to strengthen her connection to natural spaces.

“We would go there all the time just to escape, and while kayaking, I would see spoonbills and herons, all kinds of birds, fish, and sharks,” Radashkevich said. “It has always been a really special place for us.” 

Spending time in those environments shaped how she viewed Florida’s landscape beyond well-known theme parks or tourist attractions.

“The beach is easy to love, but I think it takes a soul and it takes passion and compassion to love the swamp and the slash pine, and all these other beautiful environments we have in Florida that aren’t just what tourists come here for,” Radashkevich said.

As president of Surface 71, Radashkevich organizes projects, creates outreach materials to potential donors or partners, and speaks at events. In March, she was invited to lead an informational booth on Surface 71 to encourage others to get involved in conservation efforts across Florida.

“Being president, I am the face of everything,” Radashevich said. “Being the president of a nonprofit is not easy. It has taught me the meaning of responsibility.” 

However, Radashkevich’s role as president extends far beyond logistics and organizing outreach. It has given her the ability to reflect on her active participation in the organization and the broader impacts on her community. 

“If I am not putting in the time to speak about programs like philanthropy tank, which have enabled my organization, and so many others to expand and have impact on the community, how can I expect anyone else to?” Radashkevich said. “And if I am not present at events, discussing my role in the community and how others can get involved with the projects that Surface 71 props up throughout Palm Beach County, how can I expect others to?” 

Dreyfoos alumni Marina Barto, co-founder and a previous president of Surface 71, has known Radashkevich since their time together on the cross-country team. Having worked closely with her both before and during her involvement in the organization, Barto has observed how her role has developed over time.

“She’s very kind, and in Surface 71, she is a great leader and is level-headed,” Barto said. “She has been continuing efforts such as beach cleanups and water refill stations (and)she has done a good job in leading and keeping new students involved.” 

Along with organizing projects and leading events, Radashkevich also focuses on breaking down why water conservation matters in Florida and finding ways to make that information accessible, while also connecting it to the available opportunities for involvement.

“It all starts with education and telling them about volunteer opportunities,” Radashkevich said. “Florida has had water problems in the past, and I think explaining to people why we have to preserve this water for future generations, and preserve the water for ourselves right now is an important part.”

While Surface 71 focuses on environmental conservation, Radashkevich has also noticed changes in her personal life and development since joining the organization. 

“I previously had problems with procrastination and also with my mental health, and Surface 71 has really been an outlet for me to put pressure and stress into something creative and something I have true passion about,” Radashkevich said.

As treasurer of the organization and the parent of co-founder Marina Barto, Claudia Kirk Barto works alongside the student leadership and supports the organization by handling its financial responsibilities and organizational needs. 

“In the third transition of leadership since Surface 71’s inception at Conniston Middle School, Lyra has stepped into the role of president with ease,” Claudia said. “She made a smooth transition with existing supporters and new partners like a seasoned community leader.”

The conservation efforts also reflect how natural environments are treated on a larger scale. According to One Planet, development and resource use have prioritized materials like land and infrastructure over preserving the existing ecosystems, which in turn changes how those environments function and are valued. 

“As a human society, the natural resources we have are not steel, not copper, not coal, not gas,” she said. “But the untapped environments we have that are still preserving what it was like before we paved over everything are truly our greatest resource.”

The conservation efforts of Radashkevich do not end with individual events or projects. They continue in the routines she maintains, the spaces she returns to, and the people she is involved with. 

“Through dedication and maintaining that relationship with something that isn’t a person is what it’s all about,” Radashkevich said. “Because the environment is a constant in your life that you need to be there for. Surface 71 has really taught me the importance of that.”