“I love to see what young people can do, before someone old tells them it’s impossible.” – David Brower

Brower Youth Awards

For 25 years, the Brower Youth Awards for Environmental Leadership has recognized over 100 outstanding, bold, and emerging youth leaders, representing accomplishments across the full spectrum of the environmental movement, from protecting our seas, cultivating food sovereignty and security, to improving the air quality in frontline communities, and mobilizing youth around the climate emergency. Every year, six young people based in North America, including US territories, are each awarded a cash prize of $3,000 celebrating their individual and collective efforts. The award and cash prize provide a platform to showcase and honor the accomplishments of young rising leaders.

The New Leaders Initiative provides an approximately week-long trip of robust programming and training for all awardees that includes peer networking, career coaching, leadership and media training, and exercises to build skills and capacity to effectively make lasting change. The Awards program holds a deep commitment to amplifying the stories of youth from socio-economic and culturally diverse backgrounds so that they can continue to be successful innovators and activists.

2026 Awards Ceremony The 27th annual Brower Youth Awards ceremony will be held at the David Brower Center in Berkeley, California, on October 19, 2026.	Awardees Brower Youth Awards awardees represent inspirational youth leaders recognized for their innovative ideas and determination to make positive change.	Programs For more information about the New Leaders Initiative programming beyond the Brower Youth Awards, click here.