In December YMCA Earth Service Corps will be hosting its annual event: Environmental Leaders Summit (Opens PDF). The Summit brings together youth and adult voices across generations to discuss the pressing environmental issues in our communities.
An important component of the Summit is identifying knowledgeable environmental professionals with a passion for connecting with young people who can serve as Table Hosts. Each Table Host is the anchor for one specific table and provides background and expertise around an environmental topic while engaging high school participants in a youth-centered discussion. As an example, waste reduction has been a popular topic for young people and a Table Host would help inform students about composting/recycling/landfill waste, answer questions and share insights. Please see the attached Table Host guide for more information.
This year our students selected the following environmental issues as the ones they are most interested in:
- Waste – Packaging and Single Use Items
- Composting and Food Waste
- Recycling
- Personal Care Products and Cosmetics
- Working with people resistant to changing habits
- Endangered Species/Species Preservation
- Marine biology, salmon and orcas
- Climate Change – international response, policy
- Climate change – local impacts, policy, adaptation
- Agriculture, Food System Impacts
- Conservation coexisting with resource extraction
- Microplastics and plastics in the ocean
- Ocean Acidification
- Water pollution (chemical, plastics, etc.)
- Transportation
- Environmental Justice, Environmental disparities (most/least impacted)
- Political Activism and understanding the political system
- How to make an environmental difference/small changes big impact
Can you help? If you are interested in attending the Summit and serving as a Table Host please contact Chelsey Wheeler, the YMCA Earth Corps Service Director, at (206) 466 – 1048. Don’t feel like you can serve as a Table Host, but want to participate? We welcome other professionals to attend the event. Further, if you know others who can speak to the topics listed above please feel free to share this information.
WHAT: YMCA Environmental Leaders Summit
WHO: High school students, teachers, environmental professionals
WHEN: December 7th from 9:00 – 1:00
WHERE: Seattle Metro Chamber of Commerce, Suite 1500, 1301 5th Ave Seattle, WA 98101
The Summit is a launching point for youth action and provides an opportunity for students from across the Puget Sound to share ideas and learn from others in the environmental community. If you know students, teachers or youth groups that may be interested in this event please share this information with them. All are welcome.