San Diego Green Students and Annual Youth Forum
Green Students Presentations
The City of San Diego's Green Students Program began in 2001 to build a better understanding of personal action and responsibility as a cornerstone of environmental protection. Since then, more than 3,500 students have benefited from participating in the program, and more than 41,000 kilowatt-hours of energy-saving community service projects have been completed.
The Green Students Program deploys a highly trained green professional into high school classrooms to educate and empower youthful minds about what they can do now to "Go Green" and live more sustainability. The hands-on, minds-on practical lessons are designed to inspire the next generation of leaders and problem solvers to be good environmental stewards while reinforcing literacy, math and science skills.
The Green Students Presentations are offered on a first-come, first-served basis and are free to high schools located within the City of San Diego. An experienced environmental professional will come to your classroom and teach both high school students and teachers what they can do to go green at home and at school. This is a high-quality, no-cost option for teachers to enrich their students' experiences with hands-on sustainability education.
Lessons are available from January through June 2012. The first lesson covers five important energy awareness topics: 1) the sources of renewable energy, 2) carbon footprint calculations, 3) energy use in the typical U.S. home, 4) fuel-efficient cars and 5) behavioral solutions. Through hands-on activities, students will learn how to use a wattmeter and how to determine through life cycle energy analysis which is a better dinner choice: a fresh or frozen pizza.
Second lessons can also be scheduled. Choices include Green Careers, School Energy Audit or More Hands-On Learning. Again, only high schools within the City of San Diego are eligible.
Green Students Presentations leave behind information and handouts for what students, their families and teachers can do at home and at school to use energy efficiently and implement other sustainable practices.
To schedule a presentation contact:
Andrea Cook
Climate Program Manager
California Center for Sustainable Energy
(858) 244-4869
Andrea.Cook@energycenter.org
Annual Youth Forum
"Charting a Course to a Sustainable Future"
- 2011 Youth Forum highlights video (running time 6 minutes)
- 2011 Youth Forum entire video (running time 90 minutes)
- Photos
The 11th Annual San Diego Green Students Youth Forum "Charting a Course to a Sustainable Future" was a success! The event is funded by the Calif. Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) through a Local Government Partnership with San Diego Gas and Electric. The City of San Diego Environmental Services Department's "Green Building" was the site of the event on Saturday, June 4, 2011 from 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. This year featured an extraordinary amount of participation by teachers and students at Kearny High School, and student participation from 12 different high schools.
San Diego City Councilmember Sherri Lightner and Congressman Bob Filner discussed environmental and civic engagement challenges and opportunities for students to participate in creating a more sustainable community.
"Charting a Course to a Sustainable Future" was designed to help students prepare for a future in which they will be the decision-makers. The keynote speaker was the inspirational 17-year-old Alec Loorz. Alec founded Kids vs. Global Warming when he was 12 years old after watching Al Gore's movie, "An Inconvenient Truth." He was invited by Al Gore to be formally trained with the Climate Project in October of 2008. Feeling the weight of the global situation and a sense that he could make a difference, Alec felt compelled to tell other kids about the problems we are facing. His message is deeply rooted in hope, encouraging kids to speak up and let their voices be heard on this issue.
Presentations and workshops emphasized potential solutions to challenging issues including more sustainable practices that balance economic competitiveness, environmental quality and social justice. High school students had the challenge of creating workshops and activities for the Youth Forum entitled:
- Solar Bites: Discover how the sun can be used to produce energy by cooking your own food
- Wind Turbine: Design and test blades for wind turbines
- Greenest House: Challenge yourself - Utilizing energy efficiency methods and energy conservation, how can you save the most amount of energy in your own home?
- Mock City Council - Participate in your own City Council meeting. The plan is in your hands.
- The Creative Corner - Design a book with green ideas and activities to help spread the word.
About 50 students attended and they represented 12 high schools across San Diego County:
Eastlake High School
High Tech High International
Kearny Digital Media and Design
Lincoln High School
Monte Vista High School
Patrick Henry High School
Rancho Bernardo High School
San Diego High School
School of Creative & Performing Arts
Scripps Ranch High School
Torrey Pines High School
Westview High School
This Annual Youth Forum for high school students strives to link the leaders of tomorrow with the leaders of today to compare and contrast their visions of our region's future. As a follow-up to this year's forum, Councilmember Lightner will be putting forward a request to begin a Youth Environmental Leadership Council for the City of San Diego. By so doing, this may provide a forum to engage young people more frequently so that they will be better prepared to take on a leadership role in the future.
The Annual Youth Forum is open to high school students throughout all of San Diego County.
For more information contact:
Kathie Pishny
Environmental Specialist
City of San Diego, Environmental Services Department
(858) 627-3334
KPishny@sandiego.gov
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