Youth Energy Summit
Put Energy Into Our Future...
Sign your team up today!
Coaches: find useful documents here
A unique and exciting program, the Youth Energy Summit (YES!) engages teams of youth in action projects to literally put energy into our future. Youth (grades 8-12) participate in four special events during the school year to learn about and discuss renewable energy, climate change, energy entrepreneurship, and energy economics. In their home communities, each team undertakes an energy action project of their choosing. An award ceremony culminates the year, with prizes for outstanding teams.
Pilot-year projects included renovating a greenhouse for food production, efficiency updates for a community theater, all-school recycling programs, solar installations...read more.
- Sign up your team
- Contact us to get your community involved {email}
- YES Informational Flyer page 1 and page 2
- Year-end Summary of 2007-2008 YES
The Events
YES Kick-Off:
Tuesday, September 23, 2008, at Prairie Woods8:00-8:30 am Registration, followed by interactive and experiential programs:
- Energy Conservation: building energy audits
- Generating Sustainable Solutions
- Climate Change & Carbon Footprint measurement tools
- Energy Entrepreneurship
- Much more...
YES Summit & Community Event:
Monday, November 10, 2008- 9:00 am Registration
- Energy & Action Project Resource Fair
- Energy Action Project Workshop
- Community Dialogue & Teambuilding activities sampler
- Evening local foods meal
- Public event with entertainment & inspiration
YES Winter Workshop:
Wednesday, February 4, 2009Earth Day Celebration and YES Award Ceremony:
April 18, 2009
Energy Action Projects
In their home communities, teams are challenged to take on an energy action project of their choice. Start a renewable energy initiative? Increase energy efficiency? Make real change.
Awards are monetary, to be used on projects that further the mission of the Youth Energy Summit.
Field a team!
Teams of 8-10 young people in grades 8 through 12 may be fielded by schools, communities, homeschool groups, churches, or youth organizations. Students’ projects are supported by adult coaches from their community. Adult advisors may be teachers or community members. Youth Energy Summit staff and other resource people provide assistance throughout the program.
What is the cost?
$50 per student helps cover the cost of food and activities for events. Schools or sponsoring organizations will be asked to provide transportation and arrange for a team advisor. Funding support from SWIF and other contributing sponsors will cover the remaining costs of participation.
In addition, grants of up to $500 are available for teams to help offset the costs of participation, including transportation, substitute teacher costs, and registration.
How do we sign up?
Teachers, administrators, or team mentors can contact Prairie Woods Environmental Learning Center for more information or to sign up a team.
Students, get in touch with us if you'd like to join/start a team.
YES! is brought to you by
- Prairie Woods Environmental Learning Center and
- Southwest Initiative Foundation
Along with major partners:
- CURE (Clean up the River Environment) and
- West Central Regional Sustainable Development Partnerships
- Clean Energy Resource Teams (CERTs)
Other collaborators and supporters for 2007-2008 include:
- Great River Energy
- Otter Tail Power
- Lake Region Bank
- Willmar Municipal Utilities
- Ridgewater College
- Minnesota West Community & Technical College
- Kandiyohi Power Cooperative
- Department of Employment and Economic Development
- Renville County Economic Development Partnership
- Kandiyohi County Economic Development Partnership
- The Center for Small Towns
- Buffalo Fish Fine Art Gallery, Willmar
- Michael Monroe
YES Resources for Team Coaches
Forms and other materials from YES coach binder
- RSVP for YES! Kick-Off
- Parent information sheet
- Liability form (need one for each student)
- YES! Kick-Off schedule and agenda, 9-23-08
Action Planning Materials for teams:
- Action Planning Handouts (as used at 2007 Summit)
- Blank Action Plan-PDF
- Blank Timeline-PDF
- Blank Energy Allies-PDF
Resource materials for teams:
(All materials, copyright 2007, PWELC)
Interested in signing up?
- 2008 YES Registration Form
- YES Informational Flyer page 1 and page 2
- Contact the YES Coordinators {email}
