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NWF Program for High Schoolers in New York State Fosters Community, Hope and Civic Action
Launch of Youth Steering Committee program, NY Society for Ethical Culture, October 25, 2025. credit: Emily Fano
“The YSC provides a place for students who are passionate about climate change to meet and learn. The program helps students see all the possibilities they have through activism and guest speakers. Every student deserves a place to connect with people who share similar values. Connection, organizing, activism, and education is crucial for climate progress. I have learned so much from the YSC about climate, but also about myself and what I want to do in the future. If it wasn’t for the YSC, I don’t know where I would be now.” – Ridley, Buffalo, NY
On March 10, 2026, the New York State Board of Regents voted to approve a new statewide instructional requirement for climate education. The National Wildlife Federation’s Climate & Resilience Education Task Force (CRETF) and Youth Steering Committee (YSC) were instrumental in that victory which took years of coordinated intergenerational advocacy, movement-building, and collaboration with state policymakers. NWF ensured that YSC students were at the center of the legislative effort in New York.
Through facilitated weekly meetings throughout the school year, sessions with expert guest speakers, field trips, and plenty of opportunities for civic engagement, the program is continuing to nurture the next generation of climate literate leaders and changemakers.
Young Climate Leaders Build a Statewide Community Across New York
Since launching with seven students in 2020, the YSC program has grown into a statewide cohort of 54 high schoolers from New York City, Westchester, Long Island, and Buffalo. At their first in-person gathering on October 25, 2025, students met at the New York Society for Ethical Culture in Manhattan for lunch, climate-themed activities, and time to build community.
Over the course of 26 facilitated weekly meetings and six in-person events, students learned from more than a dozen climate professionals, and built skills in public speaking, facilitation, collaboration, and project management. They then put those skills to work in the real world by advocating for state climate education funding and greener, healthier schools at New York City Hall. Highlights from the 2025–26 program follow.
Students Joined Partners at City Hall to Advocate for Green, Healthy Schools
As a member of the Climate Works for All coalition, CRETF joined labor, community, faith, environmental justice, and climate partners on the steps of New York City Hall in 2025 and 2026. Faiza Azam, an Align New York climate and labor organizer and former NWF RiSC student, invited YSC members to bring youth voices to the coalition’s Green, Healthy Schools campaign.
On the steps of City Hall, Sarah Z. and Ginger C. spoke at press events on September 3, 2025, and May 20, 2026 respectively, urging city leaders to invest in safer, greener school buildings while their peers stood with them in support.
Honoring Representatives of the New York State Board of Regents
On January 16, 2026, eight YSC students prepared and delivered remarks at an in-person CRETF event honoring three New York State Board of Regents representatives who supported CRETF’s push for a statewide climate change learning requirement. The students shared how the YSC program deepened their understanding of climate change, connected them with like-minded peers and mentors, and influenced their college and career goals. They thanked the Regents and presented them with personalized crystal awards.
“Participating in the YSC program this year was an incredibly meaningful and rewarding experience. The program gave me the opportunity to learn more deeply about climate change . . . while also connecting with students and educators who are passionate about creating positive change in their communities. Before joining YSC, I understood climate change in a general sense, but the program helped me see how closely environmental issues are connected to everyday life, public health, social justice, and the future of our world.” – James, New York City
A Field Trip to Windscape: Brooklyn’s Offshore Wind Education Center
On January 23, 2026, seven YSC students joined NWF Climate Education Program Manager Abby Jordan and NWF Offshore Wind Campaign Coordinator and former YSC participant Sasha Horvath at Windscape, New York’s first offshore wind education center, in Sunset Park, Brooklyn. From Windscape’s large windows, students could see the South Brooklyn Marine Terminal, a 60-acre facility set to become one of the nation’s largest offshore wind staging and assembly ports.
The terminal currently serves as the main hub for the 54-turbine Empire Wind 1 project under construction off Long Island. During the tour, students learned about offshore wind careers, turbine physics, how renewable energy connects to the grid, and industry practices for siting and managing installations.
Windscape staff offered a presentation about the center, offshore wind projects in New York and their career journeys. Afterward, Sasha shared her path from YSC participant to NWF employee and discussed NWF’s work to advance wildlife-friendly offshore wind projects across the United States.
Guest Speakers Enriched Student Learning and Inspired Career Pathways
YSC students heard from 13 guest speakers whose work spans science, education, communications, policy, labor organizing, coastal resilience, and sustainability.
Speakers included Arctic scientist Frances Crable; NWF Chief Scientist Dr. Diane Pataki; Climate Mama founder Harriet Shugarman; educator and Born Carbon founder Paola Garcia; Align New York climate and labor organizer Faiza Azam; CRETF policy team members Lynn Tiede, Megan Nordgren, and Laura Kosbar; YSC alumna Ellery Spikes; NWF Coastal Resilience Director Chris Hilke; Columbia Climate School Associate Dean Sandra Goldmark; New York Sea Grant specialist Nate Drag; and NYU sustainability communicator Alisson Vera.
“I am very glad I joined the YSC. . . the guest speakers helped me learn about diverse fields and what I wanted to study or learn more about.” – Anna, New York City
Beachgrass Planting in Coney Island Creek Park
YSC member Ridley and his father came down to Brooklyn from Buffalo to join several other YSC students, NWF staff, as well as corporate and community volunteers to plant beachgrass in Coney Island Creek Park on April 4, 2026 as part of NWF’s Resilient Schools and Communities (RiSC) program. They contributed to the tally of 40,000 plants planted in 2026 to combat sand migration, erosion, and coastal flooding in the community.
YSC Students Launch Their Own Peer-to-Peer Climate Education Initiative
In April 2026, YSC members Lottie, Madelyn, Charlotte and Ava formally launched Advancing Climate Education in Schools (ACES). ACES brings climate education directly into schools through a peer-to-peer model that has high school volunteers teaching interactive, hands-on workshops to elementary and middle school students. Lottie won a 2026 Green Difference Award from Project Green Schools for her role in advancing ACES.
ACES founders have developed age-appropriate mini-lessons across five themes (Sun, Water, Air, Land, and Human Behavior) covering topics like solar energy, wind energy, fast fashion and water conservation. Workshops include hands-on activities that help abstract concepts make sense. Schools are gifted with books related to each presentation so that learning can continue. By the end of the summer, ACES will have visited seven New York City schools and participated in a Youth Climate Summit.
Celebrating Another Successful Year
The YSC program concluded on May 27 with an in-person meeting and dinner at New York University (NYU), featuring a visit from Alisson Vera of NYU’s Office of Sustainability, who spoke with students about the university’s Swap Shop. The shop collects and sorts items donated through the university’s Green Apple Move Out program, offers them free to incoming students, and kept 12,000 items out of landfills in its first year.
During the closing ceremony, YSC students received certificates of completion, some were recognized for perfect attendance, and two students won copies of Ayana Elizabeth Johnson’s paperback, What If We Get It Right? Most participants will receive honorariums for their participation and engagement. Student testimonials reveal the undeniable impact of the YSC program on participants in terms of bonds formed, and knowledge, confidence, and leadership skills gained.
Many seniors are going on to their choice colleges including Stanford, Yale, Cornell, Georgia Institute of Technology, SUNY Binghamton, McGill, and Vassar. Several received prestigious scholarships and many are planning to study environmental topics in college including environmental science/engineering/policy, government, journalism, and global health.
YSC alums, like Ellery Spikes, have continued their climate education advocacy in college. We couldn’t be more proud of what these young people have already accomplished, and look forward to seeing the remarkable ways they will shape their communities and the world in the years to come.
“The CRETF allowed me to connect to peers and build closer relationships with those around me. It opened doors of opportunities in my community for climate action and enabled me to expand my climate literacy. I really loved the experiences, and it will be something I carry with me for the rest of my life.” – Rafael (at CRETF meeting, January 16, 2026. Credit: Cynthia Carris) Yonkers, NY
To learn more about the YSC visit the website.
Written by Emily Fano
