On December 1 and 2, eighty young climate activists gathered with their high school teachers and the staff of the Vermont and New Hampshire Energy Education Program (VEEP/NHEEP) at the Hulbert Outdoor Center. Youth worked in teams to identify ways they could conserve energy, reduce carbon emissions, and otherwise work to mitigate climate change through projects in their school or local community. The Youth Climate Leaders
Academy two-day retreat is an opportunity for young folks to plan their projects, consult with experts, and attend workshops to develop skills they will need for their projects. VEEP/NHEEP staff plan and facilitate the retreat in collaboration with a group of Youth Climate Fellows–high school students who hold leadership positions throughout the retreat.
This year students learned about effective event planning and meeting facilitation, how to build a coalition that includes your school board, how to advocate for policies you want to see in your state legislature, and a host of communication skills ranging from op-ed writing to social media campaigns. Consultants on hand included experts in everything from energy efficient buildings to solar installations, transportation infrastructure and waste management. Guided by VEEP/NHEEP staff, youth worked to map the systems in which they live and learn, figuring out which of their ideas would have the greatest impact and be readily achievable. They identified key decision-makers to convince, made budgets, set measurable goals, and generated a plan to reach those goals by the end of the school year. VEEP/NHEEP staff will continue to support the teams in overcoming obstacles and connecting with community resources as the school year progresses.
The retreat is also an opportunity to connect with other teams across VT and NH. Many participants noted the importance of finding a community of peers and taking inspiration from all the good work that others were doing. Portsmouth, NH student Evy Douglas shared that “while sometimes it can feel like you’re in the fight alone, you really aren’t, and I think that coming here and seeing all the people fighting for the same goal is something that really makes you feel empowered”. This year’s Youth Climate Leaders Academy includes teams from across VT and NH, totaling 18 participating schools.
Projects include bringing EV charging stations to their towns, installing a solar array at school, ensuring a youth presence in the statehouse advocating for climate friendly policies, crafting environmental education legislation, collecting data on transportation to school and creating a plan to reduce emissions, reducing cafeteria food waste and improving re-use/recycling of dishes and cutlery, hosting “thrift swaps” to reduce clothing waste, planting additional trees and pollinator gardens on school grounds, as well as a host of education and awareness campaigns aimed at younger students and the general community.
For more information about the program and to learn about Youth Leaders’ Success Stories from previous years, visit www.veep.org or email info@veep.org.
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