• Monarch butterfly by iNaturalist user walshjo4

    Explore with One Tam!

Rising Environmental Youth Leaders

Rising Environmental Youth Leaders


MCP Service Project

What is Rising Environmental Youth Leaders? 

Rising Environmental Youth Leaders (REYL) is a climate change and youth leadership program for high school students who are interested in getting outside and taking action to protect the environment and their communities. Students receive training in environmental science and leadership skills, and opportunities to connect to their local environment and to a diverse cohort of peers. The program promotes equity and inclusion in our public lands by creating a pathway for leadership and connection. 

During this program, students will receive support and training to design and implement a Community Action Project to create climate change awareness in their local communities. Students will assist with service projects, learn about climate change effects and solutions and take field trips to parks throughout Marin County. 

REYL 2022 Program Overview:

Program features:

  • The program will be begin with a leadership training where we will engage in team building & leadership skills. We will also have a 4-day mid-year retreat camping trip to a National Park in April 2022. 

  • Weekly meetings on Thursday and once a month on first Saturdays exploring the local parks in Marin County 

  • A $1000 stipend is awarded to each participant.  

  • With the support of a mentor, develop a Community Action Project to create climate change awareness in your community 

  • Mentor with a professional in the Parks and Recreation / Science Field  

  • Receive training in environmental science and leadership   

  • Participate in overnight camping trip, kayaking, hikes and learn about environmental careers.  

  • Get connected to free or scholarshipped adventures, jobs, scholarships and internships. 

  • Transportation provided from major transit bus stations in: Marin City and San Rafael Transit Bus 

Who is eligible? 

  • Current Marin County High School Students 

  • Able to attend weekly meetings on Thursdays and one Saturday a month 

  • Able to attend an overnight Mid-year retreat on Spring break week in April 2022  

  • No prior experience is necessary, only an interest in the outdoors 

How to Apply

  • Here is the link for the Program Application, and here is a flyer to pass along and help us spread the word!
  • Deadline to apply: November 1, 2021 by midnight

Highlights from REYL 2020-21 

In its pilot year, REYL connected a diverse cohort of 12 high school students from six different schools around Marin County to each other, their local parks and public lands. These youth learned about sea level rise, fire ecology, climate change, leadership skills, environmental justice, and community activism. Several highlights include, among many others:  

  • Storytelling training with partner Drawdown Marin and public speaking workshops with One Tam staff 
  • Community science training with the One Tam community science team 
  • Mid-year virtual retreat involving team building, art creation, learning how to effectively communicate about climate change, workshopping their community action projects 
  • Students learned about different forms of leadership through community activism and were introduced to the four principles of social justice and learned about environmental justice history and principles 
  • All students developed community action projects to increase climate change awareness in their communities; their goal was to reach at least 100 people each! 
  • Two in-person meetings following COVID-19 safety protocols  
  • Youth mentorship by One Tam partner staff throughout the year  

View 2020-21 Cohort Projects 

As Rising Environmental Youth Leaders the students’ goal was to create climate change awareness in their community. REYL participants had the opportunity to design and implement a Community Action Project grounded in their individual community needs. They worked closely with a mentor and REYL staff to help design and implement their projects. Students had the option to choose an existing community project working towards addressing climate change in their community, learn to become a storyteller or community advocate, or propose their individual community project. Students also had opportunities to present their projects and receive feedback. 

See a selection of this year's community action projects below:

Files
REYL 2021/2022 Program Flyer