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
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. 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.
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. When adult advisors register, please include "adult advisor" after your last name. For example "Greta Thunberg - Adult Advisor." 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 20 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 please 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
COVID REQUIREMENTS: Please note that participants will be expected to follow all current University of Delaware COVID protocols. Currently there are no requirements in place to mask or show proof of negative test or vaccination, but masks are encouraged.
ADDITIONAL DEETS
RAFFLE PRIZE DONORS (MUST BE PRESENT TO WIN!)
Complete your Exhibitor Scavenger Hunt and win awesome raffle prizes:
FORMS NEEDED/LINKS:
PERMISSION
Schools should use their own permission forms to release students to the Summit
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.
RELEASE
All participants must download, print, complete and submit the
SUMMIT LIABILITY & PHOTO RELEASE FORM BRING TO SUMMIT CHECK-IN ON FEBRUARY 28
WORKSHOP SELECTIONS
In order to get the most out of this summit, school team members should coordinate with each other so that at least one member of each team 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.
PRE-SUMMIT GREEN SCHOOL SURVEY
Access the Green School survey HERE to begin thinking about the current "green" status of your school campus. The day of the Summit there will be opportunities to reflect on what has been learned and begin planning next steps for your campus to make your school even more green and sustainable. DO TOGETHER AS TEAM ON CAMPUS PRIOR TO 2/28/25
CONTINUING EDUCATION CREDIT FORM FOR TEACHERS & OTHER PROFESSIONALS
TENTATIVE 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
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
GROUP PHOTO
Visit Exhibitors & Complete Raffle Scavenger Hunt
Photo Booth
1:00 - 1:50pm
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!
Our 2025 Sponsors (to date)
2025 EXHIBITORS (to date)
Complete your Exhibitor Scavenger Hunt and qualify to win Raffle Prizes!
COLLEGES & UNIS
NONPROFITS & AGENCIES
Plastic Free Delaware/Zero Waste First State
Delaware Solid Waste Authority (DSWA)
Delaware Foundation for Science & Math Education (DFSME)
New Castle County Department of Public Works
Delaware Sustainable Energy Utility (Energize Delaware)
New Castle Conservation District & Envirothon
Delaware People for Offshore Wind Energy Resources (POWER)
Delaware Center for the Inland Bays
YOU make YES! possible!
Our GoFundMe campaign is just one way of ensuring we can cover all of the summit's costs including the venue, AV, breakfast, lunch and transportation. Won't you please join us in making it possible for even more schools and students in 2025? Please join other generous donors and sponsors to inspire and empower Delaware's future environmental leaders through their GoFundMe Campaign.
Donate now at our GoFundMe page! Together, we can make the 2025 YES! Summit our biggest and most impactful year yet!
Thank you for your generosity and support of this impactful event!