February 9, 2016
The University of Colorado Boulder, the City of Boulder and the Boulder Climate Culture Collaborative (C3 Boulder) are sponsoring a climate challenge aimed at engaging Boulder County youth in efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions that drive climate change.
The initiative, open to all middle and high school students in Boulder County, is linked to the goals outlined in the draft Boulder Climate Commitment, a framework developed by the city to cut carbon dioxide emissions 80 percent by 2050 and build a healthier, safer and more equitable community.
The challenge encourages students to come up with a project addressing one of the Climate Commitment’s three areas of action: energy, resources or ecosystems. Participants are also encouraged to create their own categories for ensuring an environmentally sustainable future for the region. Projects may address everything from increasing building efficiency to reducing waste to planting trees. Winning teams can walk away with $500.
“To stabilize our climate, we need to completely rethink and redesign our energy systems, our resource uses and our stewardship and restoration of ecosystems,” said Brett KenCairn, senior environment and climate planner with the City of Boulder. “As the ones who will inherit the systems we must now rebuild, young people have both a stake in the outcome, and the creativity, ingenuity and passion we need to create these solutions.”
Local mentors are also being sought to work with students on project ideas, evaluate them and provide ongoing feedback.
“I can't wait for my students to engage in the climate challenge,” said Monarch High School science teacher Megan Mosher. “This competition will give my students the opportunity to dive deeper into a topic they're interested in and to take a solution-based approach to thinking about climate change. By partnering students with a mentor they will be exposed to career opportunities available to them and inspire them to become involved in sustainability around their community.”
The competition is facilitated by Learn More About Climate, a program run through the CU-Boulder Office for Outreach and Engagement that translates climate change information into resources and tools for teachers, policymakers and citizens; C3 Boulder, a collaborative dedicated to connecting for a collective impact around climate action in Boulder; and the City of Boulder.
“We are excited to be involved in this partnership between the university, city, and community to support young people to create a more sustainable future,” said Katya Hafich, director of the Learn More About Climate initiative at the CU-Boulder Office for Outreach and Engagement.
Groups of three to five students may submit one submission per group. Each proposal must address how the plan will benefit or support four of the following: city government, local businesses, non-profit community, arts community, K-12, University of Colorado and neighborhood groups. Competition categories include middle school, high school and Creative Choice Award.
Projects will be judged by a panel of experts on: goal setting, feasibility, creativity, inclusivity, assessment, motivation and research.
Key dates:
- Feb. 18: Initial project idea submissions due. Upload on this form.
- March 11: Draft submissions due.
- March 28: Reviews and comments from fellows and mentors due.
- April 6: Final submissions due.
- April 13: Final selections of top teams made.
- April 18-22: Final presentation event during Climate Awareness Week featuring winning projects and teams.
If you are an educator or citizen interested in having your classroom or a group of young people participate or are interested in serving as a mentor, please contact Katya Hafich at katya.hafich@colorado.edu and Emma Ruffin at collaborate@c3boulder.co. If you’d like a guest speaker from the city to introduce the Climate Commitment to your classroom or group, please email Kevin Andrews at AndrewsK@bouldercolorado.gov.
Learn more about the BoCo Youth Climate Challenge on the C3 Boulder website.
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