The Future is Now: Support Youth Climate Action

From Anxiety to Action: Fueling Colorado's Youth Climate Leadership

The Colorado Youth Climate Summit (CYCS) is an interactive, youth-driven conference designed to empower high school students from across Colorado, especially those from rural communities, to become climate action leaders and advocates statewide. Co-designed and co-led by young leaders, it provides a dynamic platform to explore climate change science, its diverse impacts, and effective solutions for Colorado. A central focus is developing unique Climate Action Plans (CAP) for implementation in schools and communities, directly contributing to the experiential project requirement for the new Seal of Climate Literacy graduation endorsement.

The CYCS Experience: Igniting Action

The Summit operates under core values: Youth-Driven, Place-Based, Solutions-Focused, Hopeful, and Equitable. Participants engage in hands-on, problem-based learning, collaborating with climate activists, experts, and public officials. Key elements include:

• A keynote from the Colorado State Climatologist, Colorado Climate Center, establishing shared understanding of climate impacts.
• Outstanding environmental justice sessions by Conservation Colorado and the Environmental Defense Fund.
• Climate anxiety and mental health workshops, informed by the Climate Mental Health Network, to channel climate anxiety into action through planting wildflower seeds.
• Integration of art, poetry, and music for creative expression.
• Connections with policymakers, experts, and showcasing green career opportunities.
• Sustainability modeled through plant-rich meals, minimal food waste, and reduced single-use packaging.
• Highly impactful youth-led presentations from youth organizations, inspiring peers with successful initiatives.

Proven Impact: The 2025 Summit's Success

The inaugural Colorado Youth Climate Summit, May 2-3, 2025, in Carbondale, was a resounding success.

• Strong Participation: Over 70 high school youth attended, representing 24 Colorado towns and cities, with 78% from rural communities. Out of 109 applicants, a 28% attrition rate occurred due to end-of-school conflicts (AP exams, prom, graduation), suggesting May timing is challenging.
• Empowerment & Confidence: Post-Summit surveys showed significant shifts: 85% of youth felt more confident in taking action, and 78% felt more equipped to engage with local government or their communities. Students reported increased skills in advocacy, communication, leadership, collaboration, action planning, and project management.
• Adult Inspiration: Adults, including educators and policymakers, were deeply inspired by youth passion, recognizing the summit's platform for student leadership and climate literacy.
• Post-Summit Engagement: Demand for continued engagement was high, with 82% interested in a follow-up network. Participants spontaneously organized a Discord Channel.
• Media Recognition: The Summit received significant local and regional media coverage.

Future Outlook: Fueling the Next Generation of Climate Leaders

Wild Rose Education (WRE) is stepping up to ensure CYCS continues annually. Future events are ideally planned for early November to avoid end-of-school conflicts. WRE brings extensive experience in youth climate initiatives, including involvement in the national Youth Climate Summit Network since 2016.

To keep this transformative experience completely free for youth participants – covering meals, snacks, lodging, and mileage – continued support is crucial. Contributions directly support ensuring free participation, expanding reach to 75-100 youth annually, sustaining impact through mentorship, and program development including marketing and staffing. The CYCS is more than a conference; it's a launchpad for youth climate action, bridging concern with action and equipping young people to create a sustainable and just future.