The partnership we have with you is very important to us - I know this from talking to many teachers. Our visit to your site last fall connected us in new ways to our very own forest! Our time there, and the work you done with our YES students, has woven a tapestry of experiences that we all share. Through these experiences, we now talk about involvement with our local environment with unity and purpose. Thank you and we look forward to learning more from you and our YES students in the near future!" 

Written by a Woodland Park Re2 Teacher

The Young Environmental Stewards Program

The Catamount Institute conducts the Young Environmental Stewards (YES) program, an innovative after-school and summer camp program for youth to learn about the importance of community leadership and service, environmental science, stewardship, and technology.

YES offers students opportunities to explore and learn about their natural surroundings.  Through teambuilding activities students identify and carry out service projects that not only improve and enhance their communities but also develop a range of important skills.

YES students are empowered to become leaders in their schools, inspired to be environmental stewards, and given tools and experiences to expand their knowledge of science through hands-on experiments and field trips.  Students who participate in YES also see increased test scores in science and math while further developing their writing skills through science journaling.
 
The YES program reaches out to underserved and minority youth who rarely have an opportunity to participate in a program such as this. Research shows that low academic performance leads to increased drop-out rates that in turn lead to higher levels of youth crime. Research also shows that strengthening students’ relations with their schools is a key step toward addressing behavior problems and improving academic performance. One effective way to develop these school ties is to combine formal education systems with informal educational opportunities like those offered by nonprofit organizations. While other community organizations may be addressing the high drop-out rates of underserved youth, no program seeks to teach these children to be responsible citizens through community and ecological stewardship

The YES program is built around offering nature-oriented educational opportunities outside the classroom. For many YES students, this program is their first opportunity to experience the unique natural areas within our community. These outdoor classrooms are the perfect setting to conduct the environmental science and stewardship component of the YES program.

The citizens of the next generation must learn how to apply creativity and knowledge to the development of innovative solutions that promote the environmental, social, and economic health of our communities. Scientific research categorically illustrates the unprecedented decline in the health and abundance of Earth’s natural systems and resources over the last 100 years. We need strong community leaders who understand the interconnections between social, economic, and environmental issues.

For more information to get the YES program in your school, contact Laura Tuel at This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it