Environmental Summit Attracts Teachers and Students

Students from grades 9-12 from private and public schools will be attending the Environmental Youth Summit on April 24 and 25th at Park School in Amherst, NY. They will receive valuable training in leadership and problem solving, which the students will use to plan and implement a project that solves an environmental challenge in their community.

The two-day event will be led by Dave Bauer, President of Sustainable Earth Solutions and founder of the event. He will be assisted by a team of graduate students from the International Center for Studies in Creativity, which is located at Buffalo State College.

As a former Alden environmental science teacher, Bauer has extensive experience motivating and training youth with a hands-on, real-world approach. His message to them is "you have more power than you know." 

Rather than telling students what to do and how to do it, he uses Creative Problem-Solving techniques to help students make sound decisions and move forward with ambitious but sustainable plans.  

The graduate students from the International Center for Studies in Creativity mentor the teams of students for up to 45 days after the Summit to assist them in turning their plans into action.

"When you assemble passionate, skillful elders in this village whose mission is to empower the next generation of leaders" said Bauer, "the youth will step up and eagerly accept the challenge of making a difference in their community."

Past projects with high school students include the creation of a sculpture park with recycled materials, the installation of a wind turbine and solar panels for powering the classroom, and an outdoor aquatic classroom (pond). 

Bauer emphasizes that "these projects are the result of kids' applied environmental creativity."

Day one of the event includes identifying an appropriate environmental challenge, collecting data, and learning how to generate novel ideas as possible solutions. On day two, each team is coached in selecting and strengthening a solution, developing a plan of action, and checking for sustainability. Finally, all teams are required to present their plan of action to the entire Summit audience, which gives them a chance to receive feedback and further strengthen their solutions. 

In addition to the creativity and leadership training, one team advisor is looking forward to the opportunity for students from different schools to interact. 

Past summits have so energized both the students and staff of some schools that they are sending teams for the second or third time. Currently, six schools are planning to attend, but Park School can accommodate up to ten teams.

The price of $1200 per team includes a workbook for every member of the team, meals and snacks at the event, plus personalized coaching for 45 days following the event. Teams that show measureable progress after that time will be given $200 in seed money which they can use in making their goals a reality.

The event is partially funded by corporate sponsors and local businesses. Other funds are provided by the schools or through an environmentally-friendly Shaklee fundraising program. Each team that wishes to attend the Environmental Youth Summit will receive assistance in obtaining funding.

Efforts are now underway to reach out to schools in Niagara County. Also, Bauer is encouraging students from youth organizations to form teams as well.

Inquiries about the Environmental Youth Summit should be directed to Dave Bauer by phone at (716) 432-4294 or by email at dbauer102@yahoo.com. The event website is www.sustainableearthsolutions.org