This August, the British Council, in partnership with the California Air Resources Board and the Will Steger Foundation, will launch the Climate Generation School Leadership Program. This is a school based competition connecting environmental curriculum with climate action projects. High Schools in California and Minnesota are eligible to participate in the program.

Why should we participate?

• Opportunity to work together as a team to do something positive for your school
• Gain exposure to international network of climate projects
• Be eligible to participate in the Student Leadership Program
• Be eligible to receive grant funding for your project
• Educator professional development opportunities in Climate Education**
• State-wide and national recognition
• Participate in publicity and media events
• For submitted projects, each student will receive a participation certificate
• Have access to:
  • Partner and project database of non-profit organizations and existing projects willing to assist with project implementation at your school
  • Project planning tools
  • International projects
  • Climate and environmental curriculum and lesson plans

How it works:

• Between August and December, schools or classrooms must register their intent to participate in the program on the Climate Generation website (launching in August 2010)
• There is no cost to participate
• Schools or classrooms will then engage in a climate action project related to one of these topics areas:
  • Energy Conservation
  • Renewable Energy
  • Water Conservation
  • Transportation
  • Purchasing
  • Facilities
  • Awareness/Communication
• Projects must be completed by April 1, 2011, when project reports must be submitted for judging
• The winning projects will be announced in May 2011
• Winning projects will have the opportunity to receive project funding and/or other awards (see below for additional awards and participation incentives)
• Must complete a project that benefits your school and the environment in order to be eligible for project grants

To qualify you must:

• Complete participation/registration form (available on-line in August 2010)
• Classroom or School in grades 9-12 (High School)
• School-affiliated groups are also eligible to participate (i.e. environmental clubs)
• Must have a teacher or school-affiliated mentor for each project

Awards and Participation Incentives:

• Up to $5,000 in Total Grants (per state) will be awarded to winning classrooms; grant size per winning classroom will depend on project scope and available prize funds.
• Certificates awarded to every student who is involved in a submitted project
• Plaque for each winning school/classroom
• Press event for winning classrooms with high profile individuals in attendance
• Educator professional development opportunities in Climate Education
• Youth Leadership Program
• Funding and partnership resources
• Donated trips
• International programs and networking with other schools and climate projects internationally
• Scholarships and internship opportunities for your students
• Highlights on partner organization websites/newsletters
• Other local/regional opportunities to be identified

Detailed information, including judging criteria, participation forms, and project partner database will be available on the Climate Generation website in August 2010.

Click here to sign up to receive news about this program.
We'll notify you via email the day the NEW! Climate Generation website goes live.

Select Expedition Copenhagen delegates are organizing Clean Energy Forums for April 3rd, April 8th and April 10th across the Upper Midwest to build public support for climate and clean energy legislation.

Focus the Nation is partnering with the Will Steger Foundation, the Alliance for Climate Education and Global Exchange to help young leaders make clear connections in their communities between jobs and clean energy. Together, we will work with a select group of youth organizing teams, including select Expedition Copenhagen delegates, in the Upper Midwest to support their efforts in better understanding where their energy comes from, what clean solutions are immediately available, how Washington can start spending money to make clean energy available and cheaper and how this connects to what jobs look like now.

Forum locations include:

• April 3rd, 11:00am - 1:00pm: South Milwaukee, WI*
  American Legion Post, 920 Monroe Ave, South Milwaukee, WI 53172
• April 3rd: Chicago, IL
  Location TBD
• April 8th, 6:00pm - 8:30pm: Fargo, ND*
  Bison Block 2 200 12th Ave. N Fargo, ND
• April 10th, 2:00pm - 5:00pm: Bloomington, IN
  United Methodist Church, 219 East 4th Street Bloomington, IN 47408
• April 10th, 2:00pm - 4:00pm: East Lansing, MI
  Wonders Hall Kiva, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824
• April 10th, 1:00pm - 5:00pm: Sioux Falls, SD
  Augustana College, Gilbert Science Center 100, 2001 S. Summit Ave., Sioux Falls, SD 57197
• April 10th, 10:00am - 2:00pm: Minneapolis, MN*
  Cedar Cultural Center, 416 Cedar Ave South, Minneapolis, MN 55454 - Download Event Flyer (PDF 1 MB)

*Will Steger Foundation Expedition Copenhagen delegate is the Focus Organizer.