Flagstaff Youth Climate Summit

Are you involved in sustainability initiatives and climate action in your neighborhood, school, or community group? Are you interested in getting involved? 

The Flagstaff Youth Climate Summit is a collaborative event with The Arboretum at Flagstaff and Willow Bend Environmental Education Center and features three challenges: the Climate Action Challenge and the KidWind Challenge. Each challenge is open to youth in 4th  to 12th grade who form teams of 2 to 5 individuals and have an adult mentor. Teams can include youth from public schools, private schools, homeschool groups, afterschool groups, and community organizations (recreation or neighborhood centers, Boys and Girls Club, Big Brothers Big Sisters, Scout troops, etc). All teams who attend the Summit will compete for prizes and awards, attend workshops, and learn about climate action and sustainability in Flagstaff.

View the 2019 Flagstaff Youth Climate Summit winners and event photos!

Flagstaff Youth Climate Summit

Based upon recommendations from the CDC, the 3rd Annual Flagstaff Youth Climate Summit has been cancelled.

Interested in participating in the 2021 Flagstaff Youth Climate Summit? Fill out this form to sign up for the Summit and one of the two Challenges!

Climate Action Challenge

The Climate Action Challenge (formally the Student Climate Action Challenge) encourages Flagstaff youth to take climate action in their neighborhoods, schools, or communities. Climate Action Teams will design and implement a project to build resiliency and sustainability given the local impacts of climate change. Action Teams will have access to The Climate Action Challenge Toolkit to walk them through what climate change is, how it impacts Flagstaff and Coconino County, and how they can develop and implement a meaningful climate action project.

While all teams who participate in the Climate Action Challenge are encouraged to attend the Flagstaff Youth Climate Summit and compete for the Climate Action Award, teams unable to attend the Summit can still participate in the Climate Action Challenge. However, Teams unable to attend the Summit are not be eligible to compete for the Climate Action Award.

The City of Flagstaff Sustainability Program is supporting the Climate Action Challenge.

KidWind Challenge

In the KidWind Challenge, students will explore the power of wind by building and testing their own wind turbines. Learn about wind power, build a turbine, and test your turbine in a 4ft tall wind tunnel-all in good fun! Teams judged as having the most efficient turbines will receive prizes. Teams will receive building materials for designing their turbine.

Due to material kit limitations and wind turbine evaluation process, teams interested in the KidWind Challenge must be able to attend the Flagstaff Youth Climate Summit to participate in the challenge.

Willow Bend is supporting the KidWind Challenge.

Climate Change & Renewable Energy Teacher Workshop

Support will be offered for all challenge Team leaders-teachers, informal educators, youth group leaders, parents, and other adult mentors. Join Willow Bend, the City of Flagstaff Sustainability Program, and The Arboretum for the Climate Change and Renewable Energy Teacher Workshop. This two-day workshop will cover climate change and renewable energy curriculum, hands-on activities, teacher check-out kits, and useful information for those wanting to participate in the Flagstaff Youth Climate Summit (including the Climate Action and KidWind challenges). Information and activities are geared towards 4th to 12th grades. For FUSD teachers, this workshop qualifies for salary advancement.

View information for details about the Teacher Workshop.

Helpful Resources

If you have any questions or want to know more about the Flagstaff Youth Climate Summit, the three challenges, and/or the teacher workshop, please contact:

Jillian Goulet
Community Resilience VISTA, City of Flagstaff Sustainability Program
Email Jillian Goulet
Phone: 928-213-2156

Flagstaff Youth Climate Summit Partners