Published October 20, 2022
The fourth cohort of Youth Climate Ambassadors (YCA) began the 2022-2023 year with a virtual orientation on September 29 and an in-person retreat at Red Morton Community Center in Redwood City on October 1. At the opening retreat, students learned about major themes of the YCA program, including ecological overshoot, systems thinking, climate change impacts, and environmental justice. Students also participated in community-building activities and explored global climate solutions in a Museum of Hope.
The YCA program empowers high school students to develop a deeper understanding of complex environmental issues and their impacts on climate change and environmental justice. YCA students engage in biweekly environmental and sustainability-focused workshops which provide ongoing opportunities for learning, community building, leadership, and public-speaking skills development. Students also participate in three in-person retreats and monthly mentorship calls with YCA staff to cultivate their professional networks.
As an initial exploration, YCA students are diving deeply into a project focused on one of the following topics: energy, food, water, waste, land-based ecosystems, or transportation. This research will lead them to design and implement a project that will improve the environmental sustainability of their school or local community.
The YCA Leadership Program is a shared program of the San Mateo County Office of Education, the County of San Mateo’s Office of Sustainability, Citizens Environmental Council of Burlingame, Acterra, and funding partner, Peninsula Clean Energy.
To learn more, please see SMCOE's Environmental Literacy and Sustainability Initiative webpage or email ELSI@smcoe.org.
Posted October 20, 2022.