Youth environmental coalition

      Mission:

The mission of the Youth Environmental Coalition (Youth ECo), a subcommittee of the Green Building Institute, is to develop a sustainable cycle of "Green" education for youth of all ages. Students, kindergarten through college age, will have the opportunity to work with mentors in the environment and sustainability field. Older students will then serve as mentors for younger students as the program evolves. This expansion of the Green Building Institute will offer green education opportunities beyond the classroom that will then help raise environmental awareness and activism among the younger generation.

Want to help spread the word about Youth ECo?

Flier: Color or Black and White

      Projects and Events:

      The Youth ECo Promise Tree Campaign

Launched: April 17, 2009

Promises to Date (4.17.2009): 83

Schools: Ellicott Mills Middle School, Veterans Elementary School

      Save the Planet Day Rally

This event is presented by Youth ECo together with the Columbia Association, and is filled with exciting environmental activities, events, and information for students of all ages. In previous events, there were free shredding events, crafts, games, and exhibits. The Rally features local teen bands, environmental vendors from all across the community, and collecting drives for old recyclable items such as cell phones and old denim.

Howard County GreenFest

This free, family-friendly event focuses on alternative energy, energy efficiency, water conservation, and water reuse. With over 95 vendors, other “green” themes will also be featured, such as green buildings, green consumer products, green landscaping, wildlife and environmental education, and children's activities.

Rain Garden Project

The Green Building Institute's new youth committee, the Youth Environmental Coalition (Youth ECo), hosted the March meeting of the Green Building Network on Tuesday, March 3rd at 6:30 pm. Allison Kotewicz, GBI high-school intern and Youth ECo founder, introduced the Youth ECo model and its key role in incorporating youth into GBI and expanding green education through a peer mentoring structure.

You can find a copy of the powerpoint presentation from the GBN meeting here.

Photos taken by Sara Werksman

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Questions or suggestions? Send an email to allison@greenbuildinginstitute.org

(from left to right) GBI Board President Stanley Sersen, Howard County Executive Director Ken Ulman, and GBI Intern Allison Kotewicz