ARE YOU READY TO TAKE ACTION ON CLIMATE CHANGE?

FOR YOUTH IN GRADES 9-12

Look for registration to open in the fall of 2024!

The Youth Climate Leaders Academy is designed to support VT & NH youth in grades 9-12 in planning and implementing projects that make a difference on climate change.

  1. Build a team

Gather a group (2 or more) of like-minded folks. Then decide what climate issue you want to address in your school,  community, state. Brainstorm some possible solutions…then decide on 1-2 ideas you think are impactful AND you are excited about. Join us for Pick a Project Day in the fall or contact [email protected] for resources and exercises to help you pick a project.

2. Sign up and attend the YCLA retreat

The Kick Off Retreat is a two day, youth-led event for teams from all over VT/NH to workshop their initial project ideas (with the support of peers, professional consultants and project advisors), into an actionable goal with a plan and time for implementation.

Between the focused work time are applicable skills workshops, led by a variety of professionals and youth, designed to help you learn and grow professional skills to make your project planning and implementation more successful. (2022 Skills Workshops). There is also teambuilding, getting to know other youth who are as passionate about this work as you are, good food, relaxing atmosphere…and time to chill and have fun.  (2022 Kick-Off Agenda)

3. Project Implementation:

As you leave the Kick-Off retreat inspired (we KNOW you will), your Project Advisor is there to support you and your team all along the way.

If you are in high school and want to make a difference on climate change and are looking to collaborate and grow the skills needed to make it happen, we look forward to having you be a part of the Youth Climate Leaders Academy. 

Looking to sponsor the event? Learn more here.

Guided work time

I think the guided time to work on your individual projects with project advisors was super helpful. By having advisors that were knowledgeable on the subject was extremely helpful.

Connections

There were so many connections to be made with people who can support our cause as well as offer strategies, resources, and advice.

helpful workshop

I think the workshop on telling your advocacy story was the most helpful because it helped me understand how to approach a decision maker in (an efficient way). – A student attending 2023 YCLA

Notes:

Cost: we ask for up to $50 from those that are able to contribute to their registration. To run this dynamic 2-day event and continue support for teams throughout the year, it costs over $250 per student.  We are continually looking for grants and supporters to fund this program. Please contribute to the costs of your participation as you are able, or ask your school to help offset costs. If transportation costs are a barrier, grants are available through the NH Environmental Educators.

Dual Enrollment: We offer the option of using your project as the basis of a course offered through Castleton University, for which you can use a dual enrollment voucher. If you are interested in this option, please indicate in your registration or email [email protected] for more info. If your school has an option for personalized learning or service-learning, we can also work with you and the coordinator at your school to help you to earn credit for your project work.

Info for teachers: The Youth Climate Leaders Academy is designed to flexibly support students with any climate-related goals reflected in their Personalized Learning Plans or service learning requirements, as well as serving to develop the transferable skills identified as graduation requirements. We work with any personalized and individualized learning credit opportunities available to your students, if they choose to take that route with their project work.

Contact us with questions!  

Email Mariah Keagy, Action Project Manager [email protected].

COVID Policy:

We want to host a joyful, effective and healthy YCLA retreat.  If you are sick, stay home!  If you are feeling poorly or in any way symptomatic (sneezing, coughing, sore throat, fever, etc.) please stay home and rest up.  Your teammates can fill you in, and we will be glad to share resources from the retreat with anyone who was unable to come.

If you had a positive Covid test prior to the retreat, you must be asymptomatic and more than 5 days since the positive test to attend.  We recommend testing again immediately before you come to the retreat to ensure you don't infect others.

We will have masks and sanitizer on hand, but we will be in enclosed spaces working, eating and sleeping in close proximity with others, so we need everyone to take this seriously.