Youth Climate Ambassadors Leadership Program

Youth Climate Ambassadors (YCA) is a seven-month leadership program that empowers 9-12th graders to become local climate leaders, fostering youth-led action to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and cultivate resilient, sustainable communities.

Climate change is one of the largest issues facing society. While climate change will touch the lives of many, younger generations will be the ones to witness and experience some of the most extreme environmental changes due to a rapidly changing planet. Actions today play an important role in shaping the future of tomorrow. The YCA Leadership Program aims to ensure younger generations have the skills and knowledge to play a leadership role in taking action on climate change.

Together, Citizens Environmental Council of Burlingame, Peninsula Clean Energy, San Mateo County Office of Education, and the County of San Mateo’s Sustainability Department have partnered to create the YCA Leadership Program to grow and support emerging climate leaders across San Mateo County.

Major YCA Program Elements

Empowering youth to become local climate leaders through leadership and skills building.

Youth Climate Ambassadors Leadership Program students work together in classroom on project attaching strips of fabric with writing on them to wooden frame

Retreats

Throughout the program, students attend three in-person retreats to explore topics in sustainability, build networks, develop skills, and brainstorm solutions to climate related issues. YCA students get to meet peers from across the county and engage in meaningful conversations about climate action and leadership.

screenshot of many students and YCA mentors on Zoom

Workshops

The cohort meets one to two times each month for an evening of community building and knowledge sharing. In these two-hour virtual workshops, students learn about environmental issues, climate science, and environmental justice and craft innovative solutions to driving change across the county.

two Youth Climate Ambassador Leadership Program students working on a pollinator garden as a community impact project

Community Impact Projects

The program culminates in a hands-on Community Impact Project (CIP) that applies their acquired knowledge and skills to address a real-world problem in San Mateo County. Students work together to plan and execute projects that aim to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and create a more resilient and sustainable community.

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Youth Climate Ambassador students and mentor work on a poster project together

Mentorship

YCA staff and supporters provide mentorship for students throughout the program. Students will meet local environmental leaders and join a network of folks working on sustainability and climate issues across San Mateo County, connecting with a vast network or local environmental organizations who want to uplift and support student initiatives and learning.