Youth Environmental Activists of Minnesota

Sue Roegge

“As high school youth we have the power to unite. Instead of small organizations, we can come together as students representing all of Minnesota high schools to initiate real environmental action and to make change happen.”

-Ethan Buckner, YEA Minnesota

No one can deny that awareness of environmental issues has increased greatly the last few years. Luckily, it has led to many new ideas, programs, and initiatives, especially with our younger generation. In the fall of 2007, I co-founded a networking group for high school environmental clubs in the Twin Cities metro area, along with Abby Fenton from the Will Steger Foundation and Sean Gosiewski with the Alliance for Sustainability. That youth group became Youth Environmental Activists of Minnesota (YEA! MN).

YEA! MN started out as a collaborative network of high school environmental clubs that wanted to get together, meet, and brainstorm ideas about environmental issues. These groups are currently working hard in their communities to network with peers and make real and lasting environmental changes in their school community, with their school board, and working with politicians to pay attention to their youth voice.

The articles in this section are just a sampling of what some of the YEA! MN youth have accomplished. You can also find information to start your own environmental club with tips, action and campaign ideas, and local resources to get you started.

For more information on YEA! MN visit www.yeamn.org.

YEA! MN Minnesota

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