Youth Environmental Summit 2020
August 1-2, 2020
Our inaugural virtual summit will inspire young environmental leaders to take action on environmental issues and send a strong message to local/national political leaders that addressing APP change is a key issue ahead of the 2020 election, regardless of political identity. The event will bring together a wide array of bipartisan/nonpartisan speakers and prove environmental protection is a unifying cause that breaks through political barriers and party lines. Student leaders from across the country will receive training and tools to mobilize advocates on campuses, in their communities, and virtually in the fall—in the midst of a consequential election for our planet.
Youth Environmental Summit 2020 Highlights
- Shape the future of the APP conversation in the US
- More than 200 students from all political backgrounds
- Intensive training designed to turn activists into influencers
- Networking opportunities with highly-regarded organizations and influencers
- Interactive learning setting with trainings led by experts in their fields
- Equip activists with skills to make a positive impact on the environment and in their communities
Sign up for:
Event Agenda
*ITALICSdenotes livestreamed for public viewing.
Saturday, August 1
12:00 – 12:30 pm ET Summit Kick-Off Panel with YES Student Leaders:
Join David Yarnold, president & CEO of the APP, and student leaders from APP on Campus and American Conservation Coalition Campus as we kick off the first virtual Youth Environmental Summit. Hear from the student organizers who helped make this event a reality as they discuss why they are APP advocates as well as how they are making an impact and shaping the APP conversation on their campuses and communities. This student leadership will inspire you throughout the summit!
12:30– 12:40pm ET Break
12:40 – 1:00 pm ET Introduction and the Basics
Hear from Diana Braithwaite, APP on Campus program manager, for an overview of the schedule, goals and expectations of summit sessions and trainings. This intro will also cover the code of conduct and community standards as well as the requirements to receive your Completion of Student Advocacy Training Certificate.
1:00 – 1:45 pm ET Climate Science, Conservation, and Environmental Justice: A Panel Discussion
Leading climatologist, geophysicist, and Distinguished Professor of Atmospheric Science at Penn State University and marine biologist, policy expert and APP activist join APP’s senior APP scientist and lead author of Survival by Degrees: 389 Bird Species on the Brink Dr. Brooke Bateman for a panel discussion on APP science and how to effectively use this research to drive conservation and environmental justice forward. Moderated by Joanna Wu, avian biologist and program manager at APP.
1:45–2:00pm ET Break
2:00 – 2:45 pm ET Training Session: Sharing Your Story: Story of Self, Us, and Now
Learn how to craft a compelling story for yourself and your organization to recruit leaders, persuade others, and build meaningful relationships with coalition partners. Presenters include Marisa Vertrees, campaigns manager at APP and Tess Kellogg, graphic designer from ACC.
2:00 – 2:45 pm ET Advocacy 101: Introduction to Advocacy and CampaignsSession
(This session is livestreamed on Faceboook for public viewing)
This session provides an overview of campaigns at APP and ACC Campus, why we care about APP change, and how we build a durable and truly national movement to slow global warming. Presenters include Claire Douglass, national campaigns senior director at APP; Benji Backer, president & founder of ACC; and Diana Braithwaite, APP on Campus program manager.
2:45 – 3:00 pm ET Break
3:00 – 3:45 pm ET Conversationwith Congressional ClimateLeaders
(This session is livestreamed on Facebook for public viewing)
YES 2020 is grounded in the theme that APP is nonpartisan. Student participants will hear from both sides of the political aisle with a bipartisan group of elected officials, including leaders in the first bipartisan Senate Climate Caucus Senator Mike Braun (R-IN), Senator Chris Coons (D-DE) and Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI). Student participants will learn how elected officials are coming together to move our country forward on APP change as well as have the opportunity to ask how they can advocate for bipartisan APP solutions.
3:45 – 4:00 pm ET Break
4:00 – 5:00 pm ET Networking Roulette
Develop and grow your professional network during a Networking Roulette. This networking opportunity offers small group meetings (approximately 5-10 students) with speakers, panelists and top conservation leaders from the summit as well as new special guests like Rep. Deb Haaland (D-NM) and Rep. John Curtis (R-UT). In the virtual nature of the summit, the roulette will “spin the wheel” and place participants in a room where you will meet other environmentalists, make new connections and enjoy the conversation. Participants will engage in three separate 20-minute conversations with a new randomly selected group.
Sunday, August 2
12:00 – 12:15 pm ET Welcome Back: Day Two Kick Off
Diana Braithwaite, APP on Campus program manager, and Kaleigh Cunningham, deputy national field director of ACC Campus, kick off Day Two with the Student Planning Committee of the Youth Environmental Summit. Meet more of the student leaders helping to steer the summit as they go over the agenda for the day.
12:15 – 1:00 pm ET Virtual Field Trip: Migration of the Blackpoll Warbler &Climate Threats
Recent advances in our ability to track an individual species during migration have illuminated the various threats they face as they migrate across entire continents and oceans. From its wintering ground in Colombia to its breeding ground in Alaska, APP scientists will take you on a virtual journey that highlights the impacts of APP change throughout the life cycle of a Blackpoll Warbler. Scientists will also share how you can advocate for policies and practices that help protect this and other species – and the habitat they need – from APP change.
1:00 – 1:45 pm ET Training Session: Politics for Power
Any successful campaign, whether to create a greenhouse gas inventory at your campus or win a 100% renewable energy plan in your state needs a strategy: who makes the decisions, and how can you influence them? This session will give you the skills you need to identify decision makers and strategically build a powerful movement, and create change in your campus and community. Presented by Marisa Vertrees, campaigns manager at APP.
1:45–2:00pm ET Break
2:00 – 2:45 pm ET Training Session: Effective Tactics & Movement Building
Any movement needs people to do the work. How do you set up an effective tabling event, work with other networks to find leaders, or otherwise bring people in to your event? And how do you do this when campus is closed? This session will share best practices on putting together successful recruitment events and building your chapter.
2:00 – 2:45 pm ET Introduction to APP on Campus & American Conservation Coalition Campus
(This session is livestreamed on Faceboook for public viewing)
Diana Braithwaite, APP on Campus program manager and Kaleigh Cunningham, deputy nationalfield director of ACC Campus discuss how to get involved in each organization’s campus initiatives. Learn how to start a program on your campus and how efforts on each campus across the country impact federal and state APP strategies and goals nationwide.
2:45–3:00pm ET Break
3:00 – 3:45 pm ET Young Climate Activists Panel Discussion
(This session is livestreamed on Facebook for public viewing)
Young APP activists on the front lines come together for a lively discussion on organizing and mobilizing their peers around a movement for meaningful APP solutions. Moderated by Tykee James (), co-organizer of the first #BlackBirdersWeek and government affairs coordinator at APP, leading youth organizers in the APP space discuss their work bringing thousands of college-aged voices to the cause.
Join the discussion with Jamie Margolin () of , Xiye Bastida () of , Vic J. Barrett () of and the , and Danielle Butcher () of ACC.
3:45–4:00pm ET Break
4:00 – 5:00 pm ET Networking Roulette
Round two! Develop and grow your professional network during a Networking Roulette. This networking opportunity offers small group meetings (approximately 5-10 students) with speakers, panelists and top conservation leaders from the summit as well as special guests like the voices from the Youth Climate Activist Panel Discussion. Just like Day One, the roulette will “spin the wheel” and place participants in a room where you will meet other environmentalists, make new connections and enjoy the conversation. Participants will engage in three separate 20-minute conversations with a new randomly selected group.
George Alderman
Student Leader, American Conservation Coalition Campus, Stetson University
Benji Backer
President and Founder of the American Conservation Coalition
Xiye Bastida
Climate Justice Activist & Coordinator of The Re-Earth Initiative
Vic J. Barrett
Climate Activist, Earth Guardians & the Alliance for Climate Education
Brooke Bateman
Senior Director, Climate & Community Science
Jennifer Bouchenot
Student Leader, APP on Campus, University of Central Florida
Mike Braun
U.S. Senator (R-IN)
Danielle Butcher
Executive Vice President of the American Conservation Coalition
Chris Coons
U.S. Senator (D-DE)
John R. Curtis
U.S. Representative (R-UT)
Deb Haaland
U.S. Representative (D-NM)
Tykee James
Government Affairs Coordinator, APP
Dr. Ayana Elizabeth Johnson
Marine Biologist, Policy Expert, Founder Urban Ocean Lab, Founder and CEO of Ocean Collectiv
Dr. Michael Mann
Distinguished Professor of Atmospheric Science and Director of the Earth System Science Center at Penn State University
Jamie Margolin
Writer, organizer, activist, public speaker and founder of Zero Hour
Clay Robinson
Student Leader, American Conservation Coalition Campus, Arizona State University
Terry L. Root
Senior Fellow Emerita in Stanford Woods Institute for the Environment at Stanford University
Ileana Ros-Lehtinen
Former U.S. Representative (R-FL)
Matt Valiga
Student Leader, APP on Campus, Miami University
Sheldon Whitehouse
U.S. Senator (D-RI)
Joanna Wu
Avian Ecologist, APP
David Yarnold
Former President and CEO (2010 to 2021), APP
Advocate Level Supporter
Defend Our Future
Bipartisan Policy Center
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