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EPA HOSTS ENVIRONMENTAL YOUTH SUMMIT FOR NEW ENGLAND HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS

Release Date: 03/17/2000
Contact Information: Alice Kaufman, EPA Community Affairs Office, (617) 918-1064 Amy Miller, EPA Press Office, (617) 918-1042

BOSTON - Many of the region's top environmental leaders will join hundreds of New England high school students at Harvard University next month for EPA New England's first annual Environmental Youth Summit. The summit will take place from 12 to 5 pm Saturday, April 15, at the Harvard Science Center in Cambridge.

"One of our fundamental missions at EPA is to engage and empower people of all ages and from all communities about the importance of environmental protection in New England," said Mindy S. Lubber, administrator of EPA's New England Office. "Next month's Youth Summit is a golden opportunity to spur a small army of tomorrow's environmental leaders into action."

City Year Boston Executive Director Robert Lewis Jr., global warming author Ross Gelbspan, State Rep. John Stasik and a group of high school students will be among the leaders of some 30 workshops which will cover such issues as "Talking Back - Community Activism," "Boards, Bikes and Cars - Transportation," "Science Rules! - Measurement and Monitoring" and "Every Breath You Take - Air Quality and Air Pollution."

The summit will bring together a wide range of New England's most active environmental organizations. It will be co-sponsored by the Appalachian Mountain Club, New England Aquarium, the Environmental Careers Organization, City Year Boston, Alternatives for Community and Environment (ACE), and the Earth Day Network. Dozens of other environmental groups will also participate.

For more information about the summit and registration, please call EPA at 1-888-372-7341. Information also is available on the summit website at www.epa.gov/region01

The summit was planned by EPA to introduce 500 high school students to the challenges facing our environment, such as transportation, climate change and water pollution, and to give them tools for helping to protect the earth and its natural resources. Students, who will get community service credit for attending, will be able to connect with environmental organizations who need volunteers to further their work.

"A great deal of responsibility rests with today's kids to make informed decisions about our environment - from choosing a lifestyle that steps gently on the planet to investing in companies that present a green business plan to volunteering with an environmental organization, " Lubber said. "The Environmental Youth Summit is all about empowering kids to take action to protect the earth."

EPA has sent out information to schools and youth groups throughout New England to invite high school students to the event. All students are welcome to attend the free event.