Teens and Environmentalism

As the impacts of climate change intensify with each passing year, more and more young people are joining the movement for positive change. By taking grassroots and community action, they are leading the discussion, spreading awareness, and motivating others. If your teen is interested in getting involved in environmentalism, here are some ideas of places to start.

1. Adopt sustainable habits. We all must do our part in preventing climate change and supporting environmentalism, and there are some simple ways to do this. Teens can follow these tips from Ecobnb, including turning off devices that are not currently in use, putting on a sweater before turning up the heat, and literally growing the future by planting seeds.

2. Start a SEAM club at your school. KMB’s Students for Environmental Action in Massachusetts (SEAM) program provides you with the tools, mentorship, and resources you need to make a measurable impact at your high school and in your community — while also helping you develop leadership skills. Unlike many traditional environmental clubs that focus primarily on discussion or awareness, SEAM clubs are action-oriented. Their student leaders take direct action by organizing real-world community litter cleanups and by leading peer-to-peer environmental education campaigns. SEAM will provide you with everything you need to start a club at your school, including a digital toolkit with agenda templates, flyers, and communication resources, along with cleanup equipment (up to 10 litter grabbers and safety vests).

3. Become a Youth Climate Ambassador. The Hitchcock Center and Climate Stories Project are seeking Massachusetts middle and high school students to record and share their climate stories and interview community members about their personal responses to the changing climate. They are gathering a group of motivated students for their climate storytelling training project. A commitment to the project includes two workshops during January and February and an in-person community visioning session in April. A stipend will be awarded to participating youth at the end of the project. For more information, click here to visit their website.

Allison Green
Boston Tutoring Services