Our New Leaders Initiative is part of a larger web of groups supporting youth leadership. Check out some of our favorite groups offering training, support, and youth-driven campaigns.

Youth Empowered Action Camp

 Youth Empowered Action (YEA) Camp is a unique and inspiring summer leadership program for youth ages 12-17 who want to make a difference in the world. A week-long sleep-away program in a beautiful camp setting, YEA campers choose an issue of importance to them (for example, some have chosen climate change, racism, homophobia, immigration, or animal rights) and they build the knowledge, skills, confidence and community to take action on that issue once they get home. They also build meaningful friendships between youth and adults with similar interests in bettering their community and society.

Young Voices for the Planet

 While there is certainly no shortage of young people who care about the planet these days, those that are willing to stand up for what they believe in and do something to change the world are deserving of a wide audience, support and empowerment – which is the goal of Young Voices on Climate Change.

With their series of short films, Young Voices on Climate Change aims to increase the presence and visibility of young activists who are using science and data to help reduce the carbon footprint of their homes, communities and states. These films represent success stories which are not only impressive with regard to the results achieved, but are also highly replicable projects and campaigns. They therefore serve the all-important function as being a source of inspiration for other aspiring movers and shakers.

Check out these awesome videos here and contribute your voice to the cause: http://www.youngvoicesonclimatechange.com/

Girls Gone Green
Check out a number of Brower Youth Award winners and the program director, all featured in the new book Girls Gone Green, a fun, hip, and inspiring book about girls who’ve taken the initiative to “go green.”

Campus Climate Challenge
Launched in part by a former Brower Youth Award recipient and with numerous past recipients in leadership roles, this coalition is easily one of the most powerful student networks in North America. With 37 partner organizations and 500+ local groups the Challenge unites young people to fight for and win clean energy and climate policies on campus while demanding that governments and corporations do the same.

Earth Force
Created by the Pew Charitable Trusts, Earth Force is a national organization that focuses its programs on schools, teachers and kids 10-14 who want to create environmental solutions in their communities.  They provide curriculum resources for teachers, and opportunities for young people to be leaders in environmental issues, including nationally on their Youth Advisory Board (ages 12-17), of which 2001 Brower Youth Award recipient Grayson Schleppegrell was a member.

National Wildlife Federation’s Campus Ecology Program
In addition to Fellowships, NWF has a well-established program helping campuses pursue a range of “Greening Projects,” from transportation to environmental purchasing.  They also conduct trainings in support of these projects for teams on students, faculty, and administrators from schools enrolled in the Campus Ecology Program.  Their Campus Environmental Handbook lists success stories of Greening Projects from around the country.  College campuses can become members of the Campus Ecology program.

Roots & Shoots
The Roots & Shoots program, founded by renowned primatologist Dr. Jane Goodall, works with tens of thousands of young people in almost 100 countries, connecting youth of all ages who share a common desire to implement successful community service projects and participate in special events and global campaigns.  Many projects focus on wildlife, with environment and people-centered programming as well. 

Sierra Student Coalition (SSC)
Founded by Adam Werbach, Sierra Student Coalition is the “student-run arm of the Sierra Club” and has produced nearly ten Brower Youth Award winners.  SSC, through the Sierra Club’s national network of state chapters and its own student activist network, gets high school and college students involved in national environmental campaigns while providing great support, training, and resources.  David Brower was the primary architect of the Sierra Club’s lobbying and political efforts as the Club’s first Executive Director from 1952-69.

Student Environmental Action Coalition (SEAC)
A student-run national network of students and campus environmental groups (mostly college, some high schools) with a history of championing environmental justice campaigns at the local and national level.  Tends to be less hierarchical, and more radical with a broader range of tactics (including direct action) than groups associated with an existing national environmental group.

Teens For Planet Earth
A social networking site for teens who want to protect the planet, launched by the Wildlife Conservation Society. Choose a project, connect with others, and make a difference.

North American Tunza Youth Network
The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) is looking for university and high school students from the U.S. and Canada who want to use education to mobilize the public to address climate change and conserve natural resources.