This summer, Cool OC launched our new Youth Climate Leadership Program to encourage young leaders to become environmental changemakers within their community.

The Youth Climate Leadership program launched this year to help empower the next generation of climate leaders to make a difference in their communities and learn what they can do to support the fight against climate change.

Throughout June and July, Cool OC organized three different cohorts, one middle school cohort and two high school cohorts. Each cohort attended five sessions, engaging with different topics regarding the environment such as:

- Energy
- Plant-based Diets
- Waste
- Disaster Preparedness
- Environmental Justice

In addition to attending sessions, participants were tasked with creating a final project about a topic covered in class, with the intent to present them at a graduation party to celebrate the completion of the program.

Sign-ups for this summer are now closed. If you or anyone you know are interested in future participation in the Youth Climate Leadership program, contact programs@cooloc.org. The program is open to any middle schooler or high schooler (grades 7th-12th) living in Orange County.