San Diego Green Schools 2009 Youth Forum
"Planning Our Future: Tag! You're It!"
The theme for the 9th annual San Diego Green Students Youth Forum, which took place on April 25, 2009, was preparing for a future where the students will be the main decision-makers. "Planning our Future: Tag You're It," was a resounding success, with over eighty students in attendance. This year's forum highlighted academic and career opportunities in the environmental field for today's youth. High school students and a few devoted teachers from across San Diego County gathered for the day-long event at the Reuben H. Fleet Science Center in Balboa Park. A panel of three experienced professionals gave the students valuable first-had information about what a "green" career is really like. Students also heard about unique programs available for environmentally-conscious students at UCSD. San Diego Councilmember Todd Gloria and Chula Vista City Councilmember Steve Castaneda also discussed sustainability programs and options with the students.
During the forum, the students were also given the chance to vote on what they perceived to be the greatest challenges and opportunities that will be present in 2020, when they are the key decision-makers. The students were mainly interested in both protecting our environment and in having a general population that is engaged, educated and involved. The greatest concerns were issues pertaining to potable water, diminishing natural resources, and apathy. The students were quite hopeful about having a new generation of environmentally-conscious consumers, and expressed interest in increasing renewable energy production and exploring a shift towards zero-waste communities.
View the 2009 Youth Forum Summary
(PDF: 71K) for specific highlights and charts.
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Students voted on and discussed challenges and opportunities facing the region. |
Challenges and opportunities facing the region. |
Over 80 students attended the 2009 Youth Forum. |
Presentations by 2009 student panel members from Rancho Bernardo High School and Scripps Ranch High School. |
Student panel members from Rancho Bernardo High School and Scripps Ranch High School. |
San Diego Councilmember Todd Gloria and Chula Vista Councilmember Steve Castaneda speaking to students and taking questions about current issues that will affect sustainability of the region. |
Youth Forum speakers (from left) Linda Giannelli Pratt, Chief Program Manager with the City of San Diego Environmental Services Department; Kristin Blackler, Sustainability Analyst with the Sustainability Solutions Institute at UCSD; Risa Baron, Energy Programs Supervisor with San Diego Gas & Electric; Jim Peugh, retired physicist and Conservation Chair at the San Diego Audubon Society. |
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