Follow us on Instagram! @youth4environmentalaction
Follow us on Instagram! @youth4environmentalaction
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Youth for Environmental Action
Youth for Environmental Action
“I am passionate about social justice and I want to make sure that future generations have the same opportunities to be enriched in the outdoors as I have had.”
“I am passionate about social justice and I want to make sure that future generations have the same opportunities to be enriched in the outdoors as I have had.”
–Youth for Environmental Action Leader
–Youth for Environmental Action Leader
WHAT IS
YEA & HOW
TO JOIN
WHAT IS
YEA & HOW
TO JOIN
Youth for Environmental Action is a group of high school students from across Santa Cruz County who are passionate about the environment and who want to take action for the future. YEA students work together on projects that increase school sustainability, advocate with school leaders for action, and plan and lead an annual countywide Environmental Action Summit.
Get Community Service Hours
Meet people from high schools across the county
Develop leadership skills
Make a big difference for the future of the environment!
WANT TO JOIN? Submit this interest form and we will contact you with more information about meetings.
Check out our Youth Leader Spotlights below! Hear about the experiences, goals and interest from current leaders in YEA.
Check out these Alumni Spotlights to hear what the experience was like for past student leaders and see the program overview here for more details.
Student Leader Spotlight of the Month!
Meet Lena Totten and Elias Garcia, two inspiring YEA leaders! Lena attends Harbor High and Elias attends Soquel High. United by their shared passion for protecting the environment, they've come together to make a meaningful impact through YEA. Read their bios here.
YEA SUMMIT
YEA SUMMIT
The Summit is a day-long field trip for Santa Cruz County high school students. Led by students, for students, the event brings students and community leaders together for inspiration, sharing ideas and learning about ways to create a sustainable future. The 2026 Summit included:
Zero waste solutions - like a Clothing Swap!
Environmental Art Projects
Community Festival with volunteer opportunities
California Climate Action Corps Panel exploring careers
Nature connection under the redwoods
YEA ACTION PROJECTS
YEA ACTION PROJECTS
THE TRASH PACT
THE TRASH PACT
A Student-led Climate Solution
A Student-led Climate Solution
Watch our video, read our OpEd in Lookout and join this solution to climate change that also makes schools more sustainable! We are inviting students, school leaders and community partners to join us in transforming waste systems across Santa Cruz County schools. Join the Trash Pact project here to help!
Survey on School Environmental Action
Survey on School Environmental Action
EXPLORE COUNTYWIDE DATA HERE What are students' experiences and concerns? YEA created a survey to gather data directly from high school students and staff about their experiences of how sustainable schools are, how much schools connect students with environmental curriculum, and how climate change and environmental issues affect students mental and physical health. Explore the Survey Results for both 2022-23 and 2023-24 here. You can see countywide data or filter by schools and districts.
Board Resolution for Schools
Board Resolution for Schools
In 2021-2022, YEA leaders developed a TEMPLATE Board Resolution for Environmental Action. YEA Student Leaders met with the Santa Cruz County School Board Association to deliver this presentation and share the template resolution.
Elevating Student Voice
Elevating Student Voice
YEA Students bring youth perspectives to school board presentations, radio programs, conferences, district green teams, and education events. They also produce videos to share youth voices with school leaders, teachers and peers. See our youtube channel and follow @youth4envirnmentalaction on Instagram to hear from us.
Listen to YEA Student Leaders Sophia and Natasha's 2024 interview on KSQD radio's Inside Education program! They share about Youth for Environmental Action and the changes happening at their school thanks to collaboration between students and school leaders that began at YEAs annual student-led Summit.
Listen to YEA Student Leaders Sophia and Natasha's 2024 interview on KSQD radio's Inside Education program! They share about Youth for Environmental Action and the changes happening at their school thanks to collaboration between students and school leaders that began at YEAs annual student-led Summit.
2024 YEA Interview--ksqd.org.mp3
Where are they now? Click on the link above to meet some of the student founders and early leaders of Youth for Environmental Action! Many thanks to Sydney Haddad, Oberlin College '26, for this project.
Y.E.A. Advisor
Y.E.A. Advisor
Amity Sandage, pronouns: she/her/hers
Amity Sandage, pronouns: she/her/hers
Environmental Literacy Coordinator
Environmental Literacy Coordinator
Santa Cruz County Office of Education
Santa Cruz County Office of Education
My work, which I love, is to support students to build their understanding of and connection to the environment, so they are empowered and prepared to take action for a sustainable future.
My work, which I love, is to support students to build their understanding of and connection to the environment, so they are empowered and prepared to take action for a sustainable future.
A quote that I believe in: "Like music and art, love of nature is a common language that can transcend political or social boundaries." --Jimmy Carter
A quote that I believe in: "Like music and art, love of nature is a common language that can transcend political or social boundaries." --Jimmy Carter
Contact: asandage@santcruzcoe.org
Contact: asandage@santcruzcoe.org
For more information contact: Amity Sandage, Environmental Literacy Coordinator and YEA Advisor, at asandage@santacruzcoe.org
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