YES! 2022 Details
At the Delaware Youth Environmental Summit (YES!), Delaware high school students explore
many of the most pressing state, national and global environmental issues and engage in steps they can take on campus and beyond.
● Thursday April 14, 2022, 7:30 a.m. - 2:30 p.m.
● At the Clayton Hall Conference Center, 100 David Hollowell Drive, Newark DE 19716
● Free for Delaware high school students and educators who are advisors to school teams and includes lunch and morning snack
● Registration opens on March 1st and pre-registration is first-come no later April 8. Attendance is limited this year to the first 300 registrants. All teams must include a adult advisor who agrees to serve as the point person for the team. More details about registration can be found on the registration tab.
● As of 3/15/22, following CDC guidance for Covid19 protocols, masking will be optional, and proof of vaccination and negative tests will no longer be required.
The summit will bring together high school students from across Delaware. Planned by students, YES! inspires youth-led action and environmental leadership through keynote speakers, breakout workshops, and nonprofit and agency exhibitors.
The inaugural conference in February 2020 was attended by student teams from more than twenty Delaware schools representing all three counties and more than 270 students. In 2020, a virtual summit had more than thirty Delaware high schools represented.
YES! was created by a coalition of representatives from educators at Delaware schools, non-profit environmental organizations, and public agencies to provide the opportunity for teens to meet, learn, and share their ideas on environmental issues of concern. “Our goal is to inform, inspire, activate, and empower students for environmental change,” said lead student organizer for YES!, Neha Veeragandham, from the Charter School of Wilmington.
Notable guest speakers and topics include:
● U.S. Congresswoman Lisa Blunt Rochester
● Governor John Carney (invited)
● DNREC Secretary Shawn Garvin
● Delaware Senator Stephanie Hansen
● Ramón Cruz, President, Sierra Club
● Andrew Fagerheim, Columbia University Student
● Pathways to Green Schools, Renewable Energy, Factory Farming, Reducing Plastic in Schools, Environmental Justice, Climate Resiliency, Electric Vehicles, Our Diet’s Impact on Climate Change, Environmental Advocacy, Developing your Climate Action Plan, and so much more (full breakout schedule below)!
Although today’s younger generation is often referred to as the environmental stewards of tomorrow, the reality is that they are the environmental leaders of today. YES! aims to give them information and tools to be even more effective advocates and leaders.
EXHIBITORS:
Plastic Free Delaware/Zero Waste First State
Delaware Foundation for Science and Math Education (DFSME)
Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control (DNREC)
Delaware Concerned Residents for Environmental Justice
New Castle Conservation District
Citizens' Climate Lobby Wilmington-Newark Chapter
Delaware Interfaith Power & Light
Delaware Native Species Commission
League of Women Voters New Castle County
POWER (Delaware People for Offshore Wind Energy Resources)
Extinction Rebellion Delaware & Honeybee Kitchen
Delaware Electric Vehicle Association (DEEVA)
University of Delaware Department of Geography & Spatial Science (DGSS)
Delaware Center for Geographic Education (DCGE)
Delaware Working Families Party
Complete your Exhibitor Scavenger Hunt and win Raffle Prizes Donated by:
Trail Creek Outfitters
Delaware State Parks
REI
Sierra Club Delaware Chapter
Brokers Reality Group
Plastic Free Delaware
Eco Plastic Products of Delaware
FORMS NEEDED/LINKS:
PERMISSION
Schools should use their own permission forms to release students to the Summit
BRING TO SUMMIT CHECK-IN ON APRIL 14th
RELEASE
All participants must download, complete and submit the Liability and Photo Release Form SUMMIT RELEASE FORM BRING TO SUMMIT CHECK-IN ON APRIL 14th
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. BREAKOUT SESSION SELECTION - EACH ATTENDEE SHOULD COMPLETE THIS INDIVIDUALLY ONLINE
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 APRIL 14th
CONTINUING EDUCATION CREDIT FORM FOR TEACHERS & OTHER PROFESSIONALS
2022 Schedule At A Glance
2022 Break Out Sessions: (Be sure your school team spreads out among all the sessions to get the most out of the conference)
