Adirondack Youth Climate Leadership Retreat – Open to Vermont Students!

Matt Henchen

There are several spots available for Vermont students to attend the first ever Adirondack Youth Climate Leadership Retreat August 9-11. All the information you need is in the attached save the date. Please disregard the registration deadline and feel free to send the registration link to any students you think might be interested.  It is on a first come, first serve basis and there are only a couple of spots left so get the word out as soon as you can! If anyone has any questions please don’t hesitate to shoot an e-mail or  call Katie O’Reilly Morgan (315) 742-7229kmorgan@wildcenter.org http://www.wildcenter.org/our-work/youth-climate-summit/ — Katie O’Reilly Morgan Youth Climate Program Coordinator THE W!LD CENTER Natural History Museum of the Adirondacks 45 Museum Drive Tupper Lake, NY  12986-9712

Race Against Racism!

Matt Henchen

A Statewide Race and Community Event for Equality DATE – September 17th, 2017 TIME – 11:30 PLACE – Montpelier High School The Race Against Racism is a youth-led, inclusive community running event that brings together social justice and athletics. Runners will run a 5k scenic loop around Montpelier High School, encompassing the track and nearby bike path. Running is optional! There will be other highlights – including refreshments and speakers from various groups around Vermont. Any funds raised will be contributed to various organizations statewide that advocate for racial justice. Racism, a concept so pervasive, is still alive and well in modern America, including Vermont. People of color often struggle to feel represented and supported. It is clear that this is a time when we all need to stand together and fight for inclusion and equity. We’re asking for schools and organizations to support by helping publicize this event, mobilize […]

Hands-on Fun! Join Us At The Natural Resources Management Academy!

Matt Henchen

Looking for something to do this summer! Check out the Natural Resources Management Academy at www.uvm.edu/extension/youth – a really fun program for teens entering grades 7-12. Join other teens from all over Vermont for hands-on learning workshops led by Vermont natural resource professionals. All activities are outside, using nature as our learning lab. Free time will be spent swimming, canoeing, fishing and eating s’mores! Registration deadline is June 20 – so act now! Go to www.uvm.edu/extension/youth learn more and sign up! Lauren Traister 4-H Teen & Leadership Program Coordinator University of Vermont Extension (802) 888-4972 x 402

Opportunity to Engage in Leadership Training!

Matt Henchen

Youth Lobby leaders have been invited to attend the 350VT Building Ground Leadership Training. We will spend a full weekend learning, deepening, and building the skills necessary to undertake powerful climate justice work within our communities.  The Building Ground training specifically focuses on sharing fundamental frameworks about climate justice and building the relationships that empower effective leaders.  Register for the program now! At Building Ground, you can expect sessions where you will: Explore the complex definitions of climate justice and the myriad approaches that individuals and groups undertake to achieve this goal, Deepen your own understanding of racial justice and its fundamental connection to the climate crisis, Learn in detail about 350’s specific approach to changemaking and organizing, Begin to articulate your own leadership and changemaking approaches and identify personal goals and next steps for your return home, Learn specific strategies to support your work (frameworks, facilitation techniques, and core […]

Road Trip! Great Opportunity for Citizen Journalism

Matt Henchen

Conversations From The Open Road is an opportunity for Vermont high school and college students to experience, and compassionately participate in, our world in a meaningful way. We are a traveling citizen-journalism, digital storytelling media program engaging with communities on the front lines of significant economic-environmental-cultural justice issues. By the end of each 2 week exploration, each student creates a documentary short about a thread of the people, place and struggle. Together, this collection is shown at film/media festivals around Vermont. Please check out their website for info, applications and contact email. UPCOMING TRIPS: August 11-25: Minnesota – 1 spot open Come and document this exciting moment with us – From Standing Rock and beyond! More than 10,000 people came to show solidarity with the people of the Standing Rock Sioux protesting the Dakota Access Pipeline proposed (and now completed) to be built under the Missouri River, within their reservation’s lands.This is […]

Resist and Rebuild Summit – Action Opportunity

Matt Henchen

Dear Youth Lobby Activists: It has been three weeks since we gathered together at the VT Statehouse to share our voices and feel our power.  We are reaching out today to invite you to our next opportunity to gather, learn, and engage in our democracy. Do you see problems with the state of our current government, economy, environment, or communities? Do you want to be part of the solution? Come join fellow activists on May 20th at Montpelier High School for the Resist and Rebuild Summit!  This Summit will bring together many groups and students/ youth are invited to play a leadership role. Please visit CVCAN.org to RVSP… We want to help people take action on things that matter to them and we need your help!  We know how important it is to have youth represented for decisions around our future. Come network, see what else you can do, or volunteer at […]

Another Opportunity to Make Your Voices Heard – Join the People’s Climate March

Matt Henchen

In three days the Peoples Climate March will thunder through the streets of Washington DC and cities across the nation to demand action for jobs, justice and the climate.  There’s a march happening in Montpelier at 1:00 PM – RSVP to get everything you need to be part of the big day. Here are the details: What: Vermont People’s Climate March Solidarity Rally When: April 29th, 1:00 PM Where: Vermont State House, 115 State St, Montpelier VT To RSVP for the Montpelier march, click here. To search for other sister marches near you, click here…  

Please Share Your Photos and Videos of the 2017 Youth Rally!!

Matt Henchen

Hello everybody.  We are planning on putting together a mini-documentary about the Vermont Youth Lobby movement, with the hopes of inspiring students in other states to organize a similar event next year – hopefully on the same date! As such, we could use all the amazing photos and videos that you might have taken. If you have photos or short videos, we ask that you upload them to our Google Photos Album. For longer videos, we ask that you upload them to Google Drive or Youtube and share them with us that way.  You can also add them to our Youtube Playlist here. In the meantime, here is a link to some exceptional photos taken by Harwood student Sarah Neff.  Thanks Sarah!  

58 Schools And Over 1500 Students!

Matt Henchen

This is Just the Beginning We wanted to thank everybody who helped make the 2017 Rally for the Planet such an amazing success.  However, please remember that this is just the beginning.  Here are some things you can do to help keep the pressure on our lawmakers to take more serious action on climate change. 1) Contact your legislators and thank them for their support or encourage them to support greater legislative action on climate change http://legislature.vermont.gov/ 2) Write a letter to the editor of your local newspaper in support of climate change related legislation, such as putting a price on carbon. 3) Get involved with your town’s local energy committee. Visit http://www.vecan.net/ 4) Volunteer with VPIRG, 350VT, EIV or other environmental organizations. 5) Get educated about the politics, science, and history of climate change.  Enroll in our Youth Activism 101 online course, by signing up for a free account at https://www.schoology.com or […]

Information to Students About the 2017 Youth Rally for the Planet

Matt Henchen

  First of all, thank you so much for taking the time to attend this important event.  This is one of the most important challenges humanity has ever faced and your voice will help us grow a movement large enough to make a difference! Proposed Agenda for the Day (subject to minor changes) 9:00am-10:00am – Student Drop Off and March Staging Students get dropped off on the green of the Vermont College of Fine Arts.  There will be a number of activities to engage in, such as making signs for the march, face painting, and participating in the Maple Mosaic and Youth Voices art projects. 10:00am – 10:30am – March! We will march in solidarity to the Statehouse lawn. 10:15am – 11:30am  – Youth Speak Out!   Listen to young speakers/performers and adult allies share their thoughts on climate change. 11:30am – 12:30pm – Informal Lobbying, Lunch, and Tabling Student […]