The Ward Museum and NOAA's Environmental Science Training Center are hosting a brand new initiative on the Lower Eastern Shore to empower young people to take action on local environmental issues. The Youth Environmental Action Summit (YEAS) will bring together 150 students from Wicomico, Worcester, and Somerset counties on April 5, 2019. During this youth conference students will present their ideas for action and compete for funding to implement their projects right here in the community.
YEAS aims to encourage and harness the innovative ideas of students and to support the next generation to care for the health, vibrancy, and resiliency of our unique landscape and the people who live here. "it's thrilling to see young people engaged in their community in any way - and doubly so when it's young people learning to support, defend, and improve our otherwise voiceless environment," said May Jake Day of Salisbury, MD. "The Youth Environmental Action Summit is critically empowering our young people to be leaders in changing the health of our river, our air, our ponds, and our Bay for the better."
YEAS invites all types of student groups to submit proposals for action and to participate in the summit. Groups may consist of classes, after-school programs, community groups, homeschool programs, scouts, faith-based groups, and beyond. Proposals for action projects are due by March 15th, 2019. Specific requirements are listed on the summit website at www.yeasummit.org.
This project is supported by the North American Association of Environmental Education's ee360 initiative, of which project directors Aurelio Giannitti (Ward Museum Education Director) and Elise Trelegan (NOAA B-WET Program Coordinator) are fellows. Additional community support comes from the City of Salisbury.
To learn more about the Youth Environmental Action Summit, including ways to get involved visit: www.yeasummit.org or contact Elise Trelegan – elise.trelegan@noaa.gov.