Recent Media Coverage of the Upcoming Rally for the Planet

Matt Henchen

People are starting to pay attention.  Check out some recent news articles about the upcoming Youth Lobby Rally for the Planet! KidsVT Article  Middle, high school and college students will get a chance to voice their opinions about climate change at the second annual Youth Rally for the Planet, taking place on Wednesday, April 12. Busloads of young adults from around the state will march from the Vermont College of Fine Arts in Montpelier to the Statehouse lawn, where they’ll get to speak with lawmakers, visit informational booths, and listen to environmental advocates and musicians. Last year, 700 students attended the inaugural event, says organizer and Harwood Union High School social studies teacher Matt Henchen, and he’s hoping for even more this year. The day of action is organized by the Vermont Youth Lobby, a group devoted to giving young people in Vermont a stronger political voice in their communities, […]

Natural Resources Management Academy for grades 7-12

Matt Henchen

Are you a high-school student interested in the environment and ready to explore, in depth, your passion for Vermont’s natural resources?    If you answered yes to this question, then you should attend the 10th annual Natural Resources Management Academy.  Come ready to explore natural resources management, and share aweekend with other high school students from around Vermont who have the same interests.   The Natural Resources Management Academy has been developed for individuals just like you! The Academy is a weekend full of fantastic learning opportunities aimed at understandingVermont’s forests, wildlife, soils and water ecosystems.  All programs will be hands-on and mostly outdoors. Space is limited — sign up now! www.uvm.edu/extension/youth   Who:                     Any students entering grades 7-12 in the Fall 2017    What:                   Natural Resources Management Academy   Where:                 Green Mountain Conservation Camp, Buck Lake, Woodbury, VT   When:          […]

More Information for Schools About the 2017 Youth Rally for the Planet!

Matt Henchen

  First of all, thank you so much for taking the time to organize a field trip at your school.  This is one of the most important challenges humanity has ever faced and every student who is able to attend will only increase the power of student voice on this issue!   Note: Please share this information with your students! Proposed Agenda for the Day (subject to minor changes) 9:00am-10:00am – Student Drop Off and March Staging Busses drop students off on the green of the Vermont College of Fine Arts.  There will be a number of activities for students 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! Vermont youth and their allies will march in a parade to the Statehouse lawn. 10:15am – 11:30am  – Youth Speak Out!   Listen […]

It’s Not Too Late to Register!

Matt Henchen

It is not too late to register for the 2017 Youth Rally for the Planet – we are so close to our goal of 40 schools – we just need a few more to sign up. Here is a sample field trip form that might help some of your schools plan the trip.  You’ll have to make a copy and edit a few fields, but it might save you some time. Loading…

Over 1,100 Students and 30 Schools Have Signed Up!

Matt Henchen

We still have two more weeks until the Second Annual Youth Rally for the Planet and we already have almost twice as many students signed-up as last year.  With all of the recent climate change denial coming out of Washington these days, there is certainly a renewed interest in fighting back – to speak truth to power – and to demand more from our elected officials.  We will be sending out more details about the rally using the email list generated from our sign-up form, so please sign up as soon as you can. Check out this powerful trailer for a reminder of why we rally!

Get Ready to Rally! Help Build Our Maple Mosaic Art Installation

Matt Henchen

Our Climate, a member of Energy Independent Vermont, will be organizing a huge art installation that will come alive during Youth Lobby Day, April 12th. This is an opportunity to get creative, express yourself, and participate in a true community project! Anyone is invited to create a tile (1ft cardboard square) and mail it to VPIRG (see Maple Mosaic Toolkit for details). All the tiles will become a mosaic in the shape of a maple leaf symbolizing the peoples of Vermont coming together demanding that the government gives nature a voice and does all they can to combat climate change. Our Climate is working with the Emmy-award winning documentary series, Years of Living Dangerously, on a campaign called “Put A Price On It.” Their campaign advocates for a fair price on carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases. Learn more at putapriceonit.org Host an art making party at your school and share photos with […]

Announcing the 2017 Youth Rally for the Planet – Register Now!

Matt Henchen

Join us at the 2017 Youth Rally for the Planet Promo Video   Schedule of Events What will the day look like? 9:00am-10:00am – Drop-Off Busses drop students off on the green of the Vermont College of Fine Arts.  There will be a number of activities for students 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! Vermont youth and their allies will march in a parade to the Statehouse lawn. 10:15am – 11:30am  – Youth Speak Out!   Listen to young musical performers and speakers share their thoughts on climate change. 11:30am – 12:30pm – Informal Lobbying, Lunch, and Tabling Student lobbyist from each school will have the chance to speak directly with their State Representatives on climate related issues.  Students will also have time to eat lunch (we ask everybody […]

JOIN THE WOMEN’S MARCH ON MONTPELIER AND UNITY RALLY! 01/21

Matt Henchen

On January 21, people and organizations across Vermont are coming together for a Women’s March on Montpelier to name and protect women’s rights. The March is followed by a Unity Rally, joining communities across our state with one voice against hate and injustice. This is an inclusive, accessible, and family-friendly afternoon of events.   The March begins at 1:00 p.m. at Montpelier High School and leads to the rally on the Statehouse lawn from 2:00 to 3:00 p.m.   DETAILS:    Part 1. Women’s March on Montpelier This event is held in solidarity with the national Women’s March on Washington and sister marches around the country and world. Developed and led by women, we welcome everyone to stand together for parity, equity, dignity and justice for all women.   We are coming to Montpelier to…   PROTECT Women’s Bodies: Physical Safety Reproductive Rights Physical, Mental, Emotional, and Environmental Health   AFFIRM Women’s Diversity: Identities, Histories, and Experiences of People of […]

As the Earth Warms, Help Us Turn Up the Heat on Vermont Lawmakers Who Refuse to Take Bold Action on Climate Change!

Matt Henchen

The Youth Lobby is at it again.  We are planning another Rally for the Planet to remind Vermont lawmakers that it is their moral obligation to act more boldly against climate change. Our message is simple – the longer we wait to take bold action, the more disruptive and damaging the required changes will be in the future.  It is wrong to force future generations to pay for the costs of our atmospheric pollution. We are looking for teachers and students from schools and colleges across Vermont who can help us plan our Climate Rally for 2017. Our next meeting is Sunday, December 4th from 3-5pm in the basement of the Waterbury Congregational Church in Waterbury VT.  Please join us if you can. You can email us at youthlobyvt@gmail.com if you would like attend this meeting or have any other questions. The time to act is now!