#eco2school

[climateprotection]

YES Conference Empowers Youth Climate Activists and Inspires Hope

by Niki Woodard and Amy Jolly, CCP  |  February 10, 2016  

Maddy from Sonoma Valley High School: "Your future is created by what you do today, not tomorrow."   

Twenty-three students from Sonoma County attended the Youth for Environment and Sustainability (YES) Conference on January 30 at the Lawrence Hall of Science in Berkeley. The conference is organized Bay Area Air Quality Management District and the Metropolitan Transportation Commission to bring together middle and high school students from the greater Bay Area to talk about transportation and sustainability solutions. About 400 students from nine counties attended this free event. 

The Center for Climate Protection’s Youth Advisory Board (YAB) presented a well-received “Climate Café,” in which YAB members facilitated roundtable discussions provoking a deep exchange about the climate change problem and its solutions. In two separate rounds of discussion, YAB members asked 81 of their peers to identify their personal location in the climate change problem and how they are part of the solution.  In the second round, YAB members asked “Climate Café” participants to “share their climate moment,” to put into words the trigger that inspired them to take action. They also asked students what they plan to do when they return from YES to their schools and communities. The session concluded by asking what message YES members would give to world leaders. 

“The student’s answers to these questions were incredibly insightful, inspiring and encouraging. The young people at the YES Conference are forward-thinking and give me great hope for the future. They have the problem-solving skills needed to address climate change,” said Amy Jolly, Program Manager for the Center’s youth leadership program, ECO2school. 

The 23 YES Conference student participants from Sonoma County came home invigorated and fired up to take evermore impactful actions to address climate change. They are also better connected to one another and better poised to have meaningful impact. 

“Collaboration was a dominant theme in this year’s YES Conference,” said Amy. “Our students focused on communicating the power of collective action. They designed their ‘Climate Café’ to emphasize the value of team building and collaborative thinking. Strengthening this sense of connection empowers them with a feeling of being part of something much bigger than themselves,” Amy continued. 

YAB member, Izzi Rader, was the Master of Ceremonies for the Conference. She presented inspiring anecdotes about her climate-focused summer exchange trip to China. Her take home message was to communicate the global passion, swelling from the youth, to make positive change. “It was amazing to witness the conviction that our peers in China had to push through their bike project despite immense resistance and nearly insurmountable challenges. If they can push through that bike project, imagine what we can do here. We have no excuses to not make big things happen,” said Izzi.   

“Adults need to find better ways to hear our youth. These students are impassioned and committed. Their messages are strong, authentic and urgent. As we connect youth with mentors and like-minded peers, a chemistry happens. They claim their voice. It is powerful,” said Amy.

Chris from Montgomery, wraps up our Youth Advisory Board's presentation, the Climate Cafe, by giving everyone an inspirational message to take home.

[climateprotection]

ECO2school Inspires Korean Climate Action

by Niki Woodard & Amy Jolly  |  February 10, 2016

Korean educator Dr. Choi of Gwangju National University of Education wants to see Korean youth more engaged in the fight against climate change. In searching the internet for strategies and activities to engage youth in climate action, he found the Center for Climate Protection’s ECO2school program. According to Dr. Choi, "The Center is very well-known in Korea."

But Dr. Choi went further with his investigation, thousands of miles further.

On February 4, after months of correspondence, Dr. Choi and his daughter Hanna Choi (who translated the conversations) traveled to Santa Rosa, CA. They sat down with our ECO2school team to learn more about our program and how to successfully build a movement of youth leaders for climate action.

Dr. Choi has an influential job as an educator: he trains teachers. His goal is to present a carefully curated toolkit of ideas and activities to Korean teachers so that they can easily incorporate climate action into their curriculum and classroom activities. Korean culture doesn’t currently encourage students to volunteer for causes and he wants to change this, with climate action as the leading cause.

Inspired by our program’s ability to grow student participation in climate action, Dr. Choi will be translating the ECO2school manual into Korean.

“I’m so pleased to know that our work is having such an impact, not only locally, but globally,” said Amy Jolly, Program Manager for the Center’s youth leadership program, ECO2school. “Knowing that we have allies across countries and oceans, makes me hopeful that we are turning the tide in global attitudes about climate change. We’re on the cusp, riding a wave with infinite potential. Meeting with Dr. Choi and seeing his passion – that he would take the time away from his vacation to build a relationship with us – makes me very hopeful for the future.”

Dr. Choi looks forward to continuing to build the relationship between ECO2school and Korean youth. He hopes to send one of his teachers to attend a training workshop focused on ECO2school program design and implementation.

[climateprotection]

Youth leaders converge to share climate solutions

by Amy Jolly, CCP  |  Nov. 24, 2015

The Center for Climate Protection’s Youth Advisory Board (YAB) convened more than 50 students from across Sonoma County for the Green Teen Gathering on November 11, 2015.

Green Teen is completely organized and facilitated by high school students participating in YAB, with mentorship provided by the Center for Climate Protection’s ECO2school program. The gathering drew in high school students from ten schools, along with eight community organizations, to discuss ways to make their school, communities, and the world a greener place.

Three students delivered keynote speeches. Quiana Stodder, a senior at Analy High School, opened the event by defining the climate crisis for her generation, speaking passionately about how it impacts young people. “Our generation is the future, but more importantly, we are the present and we must decide right here, right now, what kind of world we want to live in,” said Quiana. “We are the generation that will shape the future of our planet, so it’s time we take a stand together and start to live like the future matters,” she continued.

Christopher Casciani, a junior at Montgomery High School spoke about the urgency of climate change and its local impact, focusing on the drought and Middletown fire. Izzi Rader, a senior at Windsor High School, wrapped up the speeches by imparting words of inspiration to her peers, encouraging them to continue and even step up their commitment to climate action.  

Green Teen also features roundtable discussions in which all participants get a chance to speak up about the challenges and solutions. The first round of discussions was led by YAB, who facilitated ten table discussions on topics ranging from ocean acidification to compositing, drought, and transportation.

The second round of discussions was facilitated by local, environmental non-profits including Pepperwood Preserve, Sonoma Ecology Center, Sonoma County Bicycle Coalition, and Sonoma County Social Advocates for Youth.

With transportation accounting for 65% of Sonoma County’s carbon footprint, using active or alternative, low-carbon transportation methods for school commutes is the easiest and most powerful action students can take. The ECO2school program works with student leaders to help them calculate their carbon footprint and implement actions to reduce that footprint. In the 2014-15 school year, students saved 40 tons or CO2 from being emitted. They are aiming to save even more this year.

Events like Green Teen serve to inspire and motivate youth leaders as they network for more effective action today, preparing them to be effective leaders for even grander impact tomorrow.

“Teens can do more than we give them credit for,” says Amy Jolly, ECO2school Program Manager. “They recognize that climate change is the number one challenge facing us today and they want to be a part of the solution. They have power and passion. ECO2school gives them the tools to gain leadership experience, channeling their energy into action,” she said.

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Amy Jolly is the Youth Leadership/ECO2school Program Manager for the Center for Climate Protection. 

[climateprotection]

CCP Welcomes New Program Coordinator, Alina Huff

by Amy Jolly, CCP  |  Nov. 9, 2015 

The Center for Climate Protection is pleased to announce the hiring of Alina Huff as the new Program Coordinator for ECO2school.

Alina has a background in environmental science, education, organic farming, and ethnobotany, and has a passion for community, nature, education, and botany. She spent a year living in South Africa, working on ways to integrate classrooms in a post apartheid country, educating about climate change, and working on other rehabilitation projects.  A graduate of Sonoma State’s Environmental Studies and Planning Program, she has a long history of environmental education and community activism. She looks forward to being at part of the ECO2school team and further developing “an uplifting environment where young people are invested in the land they live on and to explore it and tend to it.”  

Alina will be replacing Paola Alvarado. Over the past two years, Paola has been an inspiration for teens across Sonoma County. She has been guiding and facilitating their growth as climate leaders. Though Paola relocates to sunny San Diego, her footprint on our organization and the community will not fade. Paola has exemplified the qualities of passion, creative problem solving, and flexible thinking that have enabled the program to flourish.

As much as we will miss Paola, we welcome Alina in the next chapter of ECO2school and look forward to the fresh perspective and enthusiasm she brings.

[climateprotection]

ECO2school Delivers on Teen Engagement at NAAEE Conference

by Paola Alvarado, CCP  | November 6, 2015

[Amy Jolly,  Shivani Kumar, and Paola Alvarado]

Sunny San Diego hosted the 44th North American Association of Environmental Educators Conference, bringing together educators from all over the world to share best practices and innovative approaches to teaching about climate, environment and sustainability.

The NAAEE conference inspired great discussions, and highlighted how environmental programs should approach diversity and equity changes in the education system. The ECO2school team was excited to be part of this knowledge-filled weekend and have the opportunity to share what they learned here in Sonoma County. 

Amy Jolly, ECO2school Program Implementation Manager for the Center for Climate Protection (CCP), facilitated a discussion focused on building youth engagement in programs. She shared insight about what attracts teenagers to programs and how to maintain their interest and strengthen their commitment to creating positive solutions to the climate crisis. The discussion attracted educators and program developers from across North America.

“By meeting students where they are and helping them take their leadership to the next level,” says Amy “We create a program that deepens and enriches students’ connection to environmental and climate issues.” The ECO2school model addresses the equity issue and allows students from different backgrounds to take a leadership role in the program. 

Paola Alvarado, ECO2school Program Coordinator, and Shivani Kumar, a member of CCP’s Youth Advisory Board, also represented CCP at the conference. Shivani, as a junior at Analy High School, served a unique role at the conference, giving participants the opportunity to ask questions directly to a representative of their target audience. Shivani said, “Through ECO2school, I learned that my actions make a difference and the events we promote encourage my peers to take environmentally-friendly actions. I joined the Youth Advisory Board because I want to have a positive impact. Accepting that I didn’t have to know everything helped me feel confident to get involved outside of school.” 

“Working with ECO2school has inspired me to learn about how others are engaging their communities in sustainability efforts. Attending the NAAEE conference has inspired me to continue to be part of the national environmental movement.”- Shivani Kumar 

To learn more about the NAAEE conference please go to www.naaee.net.

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Paola Alvarado is the ECO2school Program Coordinator at the Center for Climate Protection.

[climateprotection]

Center for Climate Protection welcomes new interns

by Amy Jolly, Center for Climate Protection  |  Nov. 6, 2015

The Center for Climate Protection is happy to introduce our team of interns for the fall.

Daniel Settlemyer is a senior at Sonoma State University, studying Energy Management and Design. He is working on a variety of projects at CCP, including research on feasible locations for photovoltaic parking structures as well as other solar and renewable energy projects. He is also doing research and providing technical support for ECO2school’s Upstream Portfolio application, correlating the health and wellness of youth with the adoption of alternative transportation habits.

Martina Schnitzler is a senior at Sonoma State University, studying Environmental Studies and Planning. CCP has partnered with the Sonoma County Spare the Air Resources Team to bring Clean Commute Fairs to large businesses interested in encouraging alternative commute options for their employees. Martina is researching clean commute options, reaching out to businesses, and coordinating events. She is an avid user of active, alternative transportation. In her own words, “We are currently a car-centric society, building our communities around accessibility for cars. We need to create transit-oriented development that allows us to perform our daily activities without the use of carbon-intensive cars.”

Samantha Hayman, a senior at Windsor High School, has joined the Youth Advisory Board. For her senior project, she is upgrading the bike generator, a demonstration bike that illuminates light bulbs as you pedal. Riders can experience the different amount of energy needed to power old-fashioned incandescent bulbs and high efficiency LED bulbs. She will make improvements to the bike, adding energy gauges to clarify our energy use message. Her enjoyment of service learning and her interest in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) education makes here a perfect fit here at the Center for Climate Protection. Samantha is working with long-time CCP supporter and board member Jim McGreen on her project.

Amy Jolly is the Youth Leadership Implementation Manager at the Center for Climate Protection. She runs the ECO2school program and the Youth Advisory Board, in addition to coordinating intern projects and activities.

[climateprotection]

International Walk and Roll to School Day a big success

 by Amy Jolly, Center for Climate Protection  |  Nov. 5, 2015

On October 7, students across Sonoma County left their cars in the driveway and took to the streets using active or alternative transportation for International Walk and Roll to School Day. In Sonoma County, more than 10,000 students participated, of which 1,445 were high school students who walked or rolled to school. Another 2,263 chose low-carbon alternatives like carpooling or taking the bus. Overall, the high school students were able to prevent 3.5 tons of CO2 from being emitted.

The Center for Climate Protection’s ECO2school program coordinates the Walk and Roll Day and other Safe Routes to School programs in high schools. ECO2school engages youth leaders on campuses across Sonoma County to help them influence their peers to make active and low-carbon transportation choices that reduce their carbon footprint. 

“A lot of people think that it is harder to bike, walk, or even carpool rather than driving or getting a ride. But the amount of effort that it takes to use active forms of transportation is often exaggerated,” said Izzi Rader, a senior at Windsor High School. “It is a very simple action with quite an amazing impact. International Walk and Roll to School Day is successful in the sense that it allows for students to recognize the ease of being eco-friendly, and they react well,” she continued.

Transportation currently makes up about 65% of Sonoma County’s carbon footprint. If Sonoma County is going to meet its CO2 emission reduction goals, we need to dramatically alter our transportation patterns. International Walk and Roll to School Day is just one of many actions that student leaders plan throughout the year to show their peers that walking and cycling is a fun and safe lifestyle choice.

Amy Jolly is the Youth Leadership Implementation Manager at the Center for Climate Protection. She runs the ECO2school program and the Youth Advisory Board.