At the Summit:
> Home
> Schedule

Coverage:
> See all reports
> Gallery
> Random!
> Video

 

Executive Committee member Rachel Ackoff
Photo by Sierra Student Coalition

by Karina Kinik
Youth Session

It's the self-described "hippest, coolest part of the Club," and it's helping young members realize the power they hold in the environmental movement. The 24,000-strong Sierra Student Coalition, the only national chapter, has pushed the boundaries of what the Sierra Club is involved in, especially on issues of fair trade. And at Friday's introductory session, three of its members made impassioned pleas for tapping into the energy and creativity of youths on an even larger scale.

Nathan Wyeth, the Conservation Committee chair, discussed the history of the coalition, which was started 15 years ago by then-high-school-student Adam Werbach for a California ballot initiative. Even though the "Big Green" campaign failed, the students were so galvanized by their experience that all they could ask was "What's next?" Since then, the coalition has gone on to champion the California Desert Protection Act, advocate for preserving the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, and raise awareness about the emerging social and environmental costs of globalization. In doing so, it's given the Club a younger face by providing training for the leaders of today and tomorrow.

Attending one of the coalition's summer training programs, affectionately known as SPROGs, was how Executive Committee member Rachel Ackoff ended up joining the Club. A student at Swarthmore, she explained the importance of bringing together youth activists to share their passion for environmental causes, or what kindles the "green fire." Not only do the programs remind them of what they're fighting for, said Ackoff, but also "it's powerful to be taught by peers."

Charlie Fredrick -- the Midwest regional coordinator and this year's recipient of the Joseph Barbosa Earth Fund Award -- stressed that once young people join the Club, they must be actively engaged. One way of achieving this, he said, is to raise the visibility of the coalition among chapters and involve more students in their campaigns. Making them feel like they have a place in the organization will only help to "reignite the fire of environmentalism." For more information on the Coalition, call 1-888-JOIN-SSC or visit www.ssc.org.

-- 09/09/2005 Fri
3pm