On March 2nd, the Anchorage AYEA Chapter came out to their local Assembly Meeting in support of the Anchorage Bike Plan and a more sustainable future. The Chapter wrote a resolution in support of the Bike Plan (click here to read it!), and even got interviewed on the news! Jay Stange of the Bicycle Commuters of Anchorage says, “I think the AYEA resolution supporting the Anchorage Bicycle Plan is awesome. When I was a teenager in Anchorage, I used to ride my bike everywhere. Until I saw this resolution, however, I had completely forgotten how important safe bicycling is for people too young to have a driver’s license in Anchorage. That’s the power of the “Youth” in AYEA, providing that key perspective to decision makers.”  Go AAYEA!

Every year while we’re in town for the Civics & Conservation Summit, AYEA throws a Community Dinner in Juneau! Everyone’s invited!

Thursday, March 18 @ 6pm
St. Ann’s Cathedral Parish Hall, downtown Juneau

Civics Summit teens will present awards to legislators doing great work, Juneau chapter teens will talk about their Silverware Drive, and everyone will enjoy a delicious Alaskan dinner. Details and RSVP here!

This April 16-18 come to beautiful Hatcher Pass, Alaska (2 hours north of Anchorage) to learn the Truth About Coal development in Alaska and how to take action to protect the health of our communities and ecosystems.

Participants at the first ever Youth Coal Summit will learn about the connection between coal development in Alaska and climate change, fish habitat, human health, and environmental justice. Participants will gain skills in analyzing complex environmental issues, identifying solutions, and developing campaigns in response to these environmental threats. The Summit will include workshops on campaign planning, messaging, letter writing, and social media tools; as well as a field-trip to the proposed coal mine near Wishbone Hill in the Mat-Su Valley.

The Summit is for 9-11 graders (and seniors that are staying in Alaska for college.) We are specifically seeking youth participants who live in areas that are either presently impacted by coal mining or combustion or who live in areas that could be impacted by future projects, including the Mat-Su Valley, Fairbanks,Tyonek, Point Hope, Homer, Cordova, and Seward. All applicants must have a strong interest in working on a community action project once they complete the Summit and return home.

The Summit is hosted by Alaska Youth for Environmental Action and members of AlaskaCoal.Org, such as Alaska Center for the Environment and Cook Inletkeeper.

Apply online by March 17th, 2010!

AYEA is looking for a Media & Technology Summer Intern! This internship is part of Alaska Conservation Foundation’s summer internship program. Extended Deadline – Sunday Feb 21! Apply today!

AYEA Media & Technology Intern will be responsible for managing all AYEA’s technology and media tools.  This includes updating content on our website; social networking and outreach via facebook, myspace, and twitter; creating fliers and posters as needed; and creating regular “AYEA Action” e-newsletters.

Our ideal candidate is an Alaskan-raised young adult who is creative, organized, responsible, and familiar with teen-aged life in Alaska and Alaska’s environmental issues. They must have an aptitude for technology and media, good communications skills, and an interest in youth empowerment and organizing with technology. Experience with our technology tools is a plus (google apps, wordpress, twitter, flickr, facebook, indesign, etc).

Interested in conservation and environmental justice issues? Committed to protecting our diverse cultures and beautiful environment? Looking for a meaningful summer job in Alaska? GREAT! Then check out the ACF Conservation Internship program, a 12 week summer program with an array of organizations in AK. Read more their website. Extended Deadline – Feb. 21 : APPLY NOW!!

Click here for more summer internship opportunities in Alaska and beyond!

Juneau AYEA (JAYEA) has been working non-stop on their Reusable Silverware campaign for a year and a half, and their hard work has paid off! NANA Management Services, who runs the Juneau-Douglas High School Food Services, has agreed to transition from plastic disposable silverware to REUSABLE metal silverware. JAYEA is currently holding another community Silverware Drive, gathering donations for their school cafeteria. If you are in Juneau, look for their boxes to donate!  JAYEA is now focusing on doing education about the switch and why it is more eco-friendly. Congrats, JAYEA!

Bailey Arend (AYEA ‘05) is heating things up in Walla Walla, WA as he finishes his Chemistry degree at Whitman College.

At Whitman he has been involved with the Campus Climate Challenge, a nationwide group with the ultimate goal of making college campuses carbon-neutral. He says, “the talent and drive in CCC is impressive and it got me very excited about campus organizing and the many different ways to address climate change. One of our projects raised a substantial amount of money and aided the Whitman to install a 21kW solar array on the roof of a campus building. During my semester as Co-President of the Whitman CCC, it was gratifying to organize for 15 students to go to Powershift ’09 in DC. The face-to-face meetings with congress(wo)men was empowering and led to a follow-up meeting with Cathy McMorris-Rodgers at Whitman!”

Between semesters of chemistry classes, I spent one summer WWOOFing in Switzerland, learning permaculture design and building Yurts, gardens, composting toilets and a chicken coop. The past summer I tried to bring some of that experience back to Walla Walla, taking care of the student organic garden while doing research for my thesis.

My first environmental work was with Service High’s Green Club, collecting recycling after school. From there I became involved with AYEA’s push to coordinate recycling efforts across the Anchorage School District. I continue to enjoy environmental action that involves tangible progress and local visible benefits.

Learning about and becoming part of the environmental movement in Washington has made me want to return to Alaska and get involved with the community building and activism going on in my home state. I hope to find a job or internship that can put my chemistry degree to work for our environment. I will be using my free time to ski, hike, garden and get into the backcountry.

Keep up the great work Bailey!

HUGE CONGRATULATIONS to Zoe Fuller (Palmer) and Oceana Wills (Homer) who were just announced award recipients of the 2010 Spirit of Youth Awards!

The Spirit of Youth Awards recognize Alaskan youth who are organizing unique activities or projects that help others and improve the quality of life in the community. Projects must be youth-led. There are 11 categories for nomination and two recipients are granted awards in each category.

Zoe Fuller is receiving the Science and Environment Award for her leadership with Palmer Alaska Youth for Environmental Action chapter, promoting the Sustainable Schools campaign working towards local food in school cafeterias, school recycling, and replacing disposable plastic cafeteria trays with washable reusable trays.

Oceana Wills is receiving the Business and Government Award for her leadership with Homer Alaska Youth for Environmental Action chapter, promoting the creation of an Energy Chapter in Homer’s Comprehensive Plan and organizing youth testimony to take out language supporting non-renewable energy in another chapter of the Plan.

Spirit of Youth is dedicated to creating, promoting and recognizing youth involvement in communities across Alaska. Find out more at http://www.spiritofyouth.org/

The 2010 Spirit of Youth Banquet will take place Saturday March 20th at the Anchorage Hilton. Register online now.

The Alaska Forum on the Environment (AFE) is a statewide gathering of environmental professionals from government agencies, non-profit and for-profit businesses, community leaders, Alaskan youth, conservationists, biologists and community elders. The diversity of attendees sets this conference apart from any other. The 2010 event will be our twelfth year providing a strong educational foundation for all Alaskan’s and a unique opportunity to interact with others on environmental issues and challenges.

This year AFE is having a YOUTH TRACK, and AYEA teens from Palmer and Dillingham are presenting! The Palmer AYEA chapter is presenting their work on their Sustainable Schools campaign, and Rebels to the Pebble are presenting their campaign to fight the proposed Pebble Mine in their community.  Don’t Miss Out!

Youth Session Topics:

• Hidden Assets: What Youth can bring to the Table
• Showcase for Youth in the Environment
• Hands on Problem-Solving Sessions
• Protecting our Traditional Foods: Lets Win This Food Fight!
• Education and Career Opportunities in Environmental and Natural Sciences

We are currently not accepting applications for for AYEA’s 2010 Civics & Conservation Summit! Deadline to apply is February 1. Read more here. Download a pdf flier to post in your community here: