REGISTRATION NOW OPEN

Early Registration Enter to Win by 2/7. Deadline 2/14.

YES! 2025 OVERVIEW

WHO?

All Delaware high school students are invited free of charge (must be accompanied by an adult teacher or advisor team leader). Capacity is limited.

WHAT?

At the 2025 YES! students will explore many of the most pressing state, national and global environmental issues and engage in steps they can take on campus, in college , in careers, as community activists, and beyond.

WHERE?

At the Chase Riverfront Center in Wilmington, Delaware

815 Justison Street, Wilmington, DE 19801

WHEN?

Friday February 28, 2025, 7:30 a.m. - 2:30 p.m.

HOW?

The YES! Summit is free for Delaware high school students and their adult team advisors, including breakfast, lunch, snacks and beverages.

Schools/teams can register up to 25 students until February 7th, space available. IF additional space is available after February 7th, up to ten additional students may be added per school.

A limited amount of grant support is available for schools where funding can support transportation (bus arrangements are the team's responsibilities). Contact us for details.

2025 SCHEDULE

(subject to change)

7:30 - 8:15am

Check-In

Breakfast Available

Visit Exhibitors & Raffle Scavenger Hunt

Photo Booth

8:15 - 9:15am

OPENING PLENARY [see next tab for plenary session details]

Eesha Sagiraju, Charter School of Wilmington & 2025 YES! Student Chair

Delaware Governor Matt Meyer

Heather White, Author | National Sustainability & Climate Leader| Eco-Anxiety Expert

9:25 - 10:15am

BREAKOUT SESSIONS I [see next tab for workshop details]

BREAK

10:25 - 11:15am

BREAKOUT SESSIONS II [see next tab for workshop details]

11:15am - 1:00pm

LUNCH

MID-DAY PLENARY [see next tab for plenary session details]

Delaware DNREC Secretary Greg Patterson (nominated, invited)

Adam Schellhammer, Mid-Atlantic Director, American Rivers

Raye-Lee McDonald, Founder of ethicloset.co | Freshman @ University of Pennsylvania

GROUP PHOTO

Visit Exhibitors & Complete Raffle Scavenger Hunt

Photo Booth

1:10 - 2:00pm

BREAKOUT WORKSHOPS III [see next tab for workshop details]

2:00 - 2:20pm

SCHOOL TEAMS ACTION PLAN DEVELOPMENT

2:20-2:30pm

Raffle drawings

Farewell for now. Go forth and make positive change happen!

REGISTRATION DETAILS FOR 2025

STOP! READ THIS!! Are you a student? You must have a teacher or adult advisor who registers a team from your school or a group of home schoolers (a team can be a minimum of 1 student and 1 adult). Students must be accompanied by an adult team leader who usually handles the team registrations as a whole.

HOW TO REGISTER:

Registration for the 2025 Delaware Youth Environmental Summit (2025 YES!) is by high school student teams, not as individuals. Team captains can be teachers, advisors, homeschool parents or student leaders. Team captains are responsible for sharing or inviting other team members. All teams must include a TEACHER/ADVISOR who agrees to serve as the point person for the school team (or home schooler(s), act in an advisory role, arrange or ensure transportation for team members, and attend the Summit as an advisor to the team. Although registration is by teams, this is not a competitive event. Students are expected to follow their school's code of conduct, acting as a representative of their school.

REGISTRATION DEADLINE:

EARLY BIRD DEADLINE 2/7/25. Early bird team members (students and teachers/team advisors will each be entered to win drawings of $100 VISA Gift Cards).

FINAL DEADLINE: 2/21/2025 OR WHEN CAPACITY IS REACHED IF SOONER. SPACE IS LIMITED!

INITIAL LIMIT PER HIGH SCHOOL: TEAMS OF NO MORE THAN 25 PER SCHOOL MAY REGISTER UNTIL THE EARLY BIRD DEADLINE of 2/7/25 (if space permits, slots will be opened up for additional registrants per school after the Early Bird deadline). The registration form via Eventbrite will remain editable for additional names to be added or changes to be made UNTIL registration cap is reached or until 2/21/2025 whichever comes first. After that, please email YESDelaware@gmail.com with any changes in team registration prior to the summit.

REGISTRATION IS FREE - Thanks to our generous sponsors, the YES! summit is provided at no cost to all student and teacher/advisor attendees. Donations are always welcome.

ZERO WASTE - This aims to be a zero waste event. Each attendee should plan to bring a reusable, refillable water bottle.

CATERING - Vegetarian fare for morning refreshments and lunch will be provided as we strive to raise awareness about the impacts of our diet on a healthy planet.

PERMISSIONS AND FORMS:

PERMISSION - Schools should use their own permission forms to release students to the Summit BRING TO SUMMIT CHECK-IN ON 2/28/25
RELEASE - All participants must download, complete and submit the Liability and Photo Release Form SUMMIT RELEASE FORM AND UPLOAD IT TO THE WORKSHOP SELECTION PORTAL BELOW
WORKSHOP SELECTIONS - In order to get the most out of this summit, school team members should coordinate with each other so that one member is able to attend each breakout session option in the three session timeslots. Having all members of a school team attend the same breakout sessions is discouraged. EACH ATTENDEE SHOULD COMPLETE THIS INDIVIDUALLY ONLINE
PRE-SUMMIT SURVEY Advisers can access the Green School survey below for the students to begin thinking about the current "green" status of their school. The day of the Summit there will be opportunities to reflect on what has been learned and steps that could be taken on your campus to make your school even more green and sustainable. DO TOGETHER AS TEAM ON CAMPUS PRIOR TO 2/28/25

REGISTRATION OPEN UNTIL 2/14

Early Registrations Until 2/7 Get Entered to Win

ADDITIONAL DEETS

Delaware state code provides that "every student who is enrolled in a public school of this State in grades 6 through 12 shall be allowed 1 excused absence per school year to attend a civic engagement activity, which includes visiting Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C. or Legislative Hall in Dover, visiting a site of significant historical or cultural importance, advocating for or testifying on behalf of legislation, or participating in a rally, march, or protest..." For a student to attend a civic engagement event, the student’s parent or guardian must provide written permission to the school principal or designee no later than 3 school days prior to the student’s planned absence. It is incumbent upon each school to determine what is acceptable as written permission, either a letter or email from the parent or guardian, or a form designed by the school or school district.