The Ashokan Center

The Youth Empowerment & Sustainability Summit (YESS!) is a global climate solution and leadership summit for young people who are ready to change their lives and their communities by working towards climate resilience. The three-day event is designed to empower middle, secondary and college students by providing them with opportunities to develop solutions-based thinking and civic engagement skills. Climate scientist, Dr. James Hansen has committed to be the Keynote speaker.

This summit will take place at The Ashokan Center in Olive Bridge, February 6-9, 2020. Each school will bring 6 students and 1 teacher. During the summit participants will:

• Learn from cutting-edge scientists and climate experts
• Exchange peer-to-peer ideas with experienced young leaders
• Participate in hands-on workshops on leadership development, empowerment and civic engagement developed by a youth planning committee
• Explore and discover in the Ashokan Center’s beautiful natural environment
• Develop a YESS! Action Plan for each school team to implement in their own schools and communities

We are inviting a diverse mix of schools from the Hudson Valley and NYC and need funding to support underserved schools. 20 schools have expressed interest in sending students. 

All donations will be used to cover the cost of room and board for students and their teacher as well as to provide a small stipend to each team to support the implementation of their climate action plan following the summit.

A team of 25 young people and adults are planning this event and they are seeking your help to enable young people of all means to participate.