Youth-led Sustainability Initiatives in 40 Greater Minnesota Communities
Adoption of renewable energy technologies and energy conservation practices can contribute in a variety of ways to the environmental and economic health of rural Minnesota communities through costs savings and emissions reductions. Engaging and coaching students as the leaders in the process of implementing such practices provides the added benefit of increasing knowledge, teaching about potential career paths, and developing leadership experience. Using this appropriation the Prairie Woods Environmental Learning Center and its partners are expanding an existing program called the Youth Energy Summit (YES!) to engage approximately 650 students in implementing 150 additional youth-led renewable energy and energy conservation projects in over 40 communities in central, northeastern, southwestern, and southeastern Minnesota. These projects will be driven by collaboration between students, community members, and local businesses and organizations.
$350,000 the second year is from the rust fund to the commissioner of natural resources for an agreement with Prairie Woods Environmental Learning Center and Laurentian Environmental Learning Center to complete over 100 youth-led sustainability action projects in 40 communities in southwest, southeast, central and northeastern Minnesota.
Click on Work Plan under Project Details.
Click on Work Plan under Project Details.