2025-2026
THE YOUTH CLIMATE SUMMIT & CLIMATE ACTION PROJECTS
GRADES 8-12
On Saturday, March 29, 2025, Residents Forward will host our Fourth Youth Climate Summit at the Port Washington Public Library. The Youth Climate Summit is a free, one-day event that gives 100 students in grades 8-12 the opportunity to hear from environmental leaders, participate in workshops, and plan their own Climate Action Projects. The application for Youth Climate Summit 2025 will go live on our website in January 2025.
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The Youth Climate Summit is the result of seven months of planning and research by the YCS Student Planning Committee led by Weber Middle School science teacher Kelsey Heyne. If you are Interested in serving on the Youth Climate Summit Planning Committee please email [email protected]. Post-summit, the students will embark on implementing their Climate Action Projects (CAPS) which positively impact our community. Â
2023 Youth Climate Summit
2025 YCS Student Planning Committee
Highlights of ongoing Climate Action Projects from our past Youth Climate Summits:
- The Climate Awareness Garden: Students from grades 1-12 collaboratively planned, grew, and maintained a “square foot” vegetable garden at Schreiber High School, donating to food insecure, combining education with environmental action.
- The Bus is For Us: A district-wide initiative provided 10 free rides on public buses for every student during Earth Month, reducing emissions and encouraging sustainable transportation.
- Recycling Made Easy: A comprehensive recycling curriculum being implemented across local schools, teaching students, educators, and administrators how to reduce waste effectively.
- Food Scrap Recycling Pilot Program: Introduced at Salem Elementary, this project diverted waste and reduced methane emissions while teaching the value of composting.
2023 Summit Sponsors
2025 RESIDENTS FORWARD YOUTH CLIMATE SUMMIT SPONSORSHIP
Your Sponsorship of the 2025 Summit will inspire and equip our youth to tackle climate change right here in Port Washington. From record-breaking heatwaves to unprecedented floods, recent events have shown us that the climate crisis is no longer a distant threat—it’s here, at home, and the time to act is now. The Summit empowers middle and high school students to lead the way in creating a sustainable future for our community. Our student-led planning committee will select and develop the content and secure the speakers for the 2025 Summit’s keynote address and four major workshop themes.
2025 Summit topics thus far include:
- Litter’s effect on climate: Investigating the impact of single-use items and strategies to promote waste reduction.
- Sustaining our drinking water: Conserving the supply and building more resilient infrastructure.
- Fast fashion and environmental impact: Tackling the fastest-growing component of American landfills.
- Climate advocacy: Learning skills to influence policy and organize collective action.
Please contact [email protected] or call 516.767.9151 if you have any questions.
Thank you in advance for your support in helping Residents Forward cultivate the next generation of environmental leaders.
Join Us as a Sponsor for the Youth Climate Summit
Please complete the form below to become a sponsor and support this impactful event. Be sure to select your preferred payment method: online or by mailing a check. To help us avoid PayPal fees, we kindly encourage you to choose the mail-in check option. Alternatively, you can check the box to add funds to help offset online transaction fees. Your generosity ensures the success of this initiative—thank you for your support!
Your donation is fully tax deductible, tax id 23-7148060