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Trainings

Want to hone your leadership skills? Explore other cultures and communities? Learn about the environment? Take action and really make a difference? Then train with AYEA. AYEA members and adults can volunteer to help at any of our trainings throughout the year. AYEA seeks youth and adults from diverse backgrounds, communities, and cultures to help lead trainings—experience is not always necessary, but enthusiasm is!

Become a Peer Leader: AYEA teens that have participated in at least one of our trainings, or been involved with AYEA for over one year, are eligible to serve as peer leaders. Peer leaders:

  • Lead 2-3 activities during a training, working in partnership with other youth/adults
  • Participate in 3-4 orientation meetings with the rest of the training team
  • Serve as positive role models during a training, upholding AYEA’s values
  • Assist with all aspects of a training, from recreation activities to meal preparation
  • Pay no training tuition and their travel is covered by AYEA

Become an Adult Mentor: Adults that would like to learn more about AYEA while lending their skills, time, and energy can serve as an Adult Mentor. Adult Mentors:

  • Commit to lead 2-3 activities during a training, working with other adults/youth
  • Participate in 3-4 orientation meetings with the rest of the training team
  • Serve as chaperones throughout a training, responsible for health & safety of youth
  • Must agree to a background check for working with minors
  • Travel, room & board is covered by AYEA

AYEA Training Descriptions

Civics and Conservation Summit

  • Location: Juneau. Timeline: March/April each year.
  • Tuition: $100-$150 w/out travel; scholarships available.

The Civics and Conservation Summit brings 15-20 youth leaders to our state capital for a week of high-impact, fun, and adrenaline-pumping civic engagement lessons. During this event, youth will learn: how to talk with the media, how to communicate with elected officials, how to read a bill, and how to impact decisions our leaders make about our environment and our lives. We also include sessions on the tribal resolution process, environmental justice, and defining sources of power and influence. The training ends with youth-led visits to state legislators to discuss environmental concerns and interests. This is a life-changing training that will give teens skills they can use in any arena.Applications now available!
Due February 1, 2010

Summer Creative Training

  • Date: July 2010
  • Location: varies each year
  • Cost: $100 tuition plus travel. Fundraising help available.

AYEA’s summer trainings have incorporated the use of art and media to address social and environmental justice issues. In 2007 we had the Summer Institute; in 2008 it was Art in Action: Telling Our Stories; for 2009 we brought Art in Action together with Alaska artists to focus on the climate for our Summer Training: Getting Creative About Climate Change.
Check back for Applications for 2010 Summer Training in April 2010. Find out more about Art in Action www.Artinactioncamp.org
Read the Report-Back from the 2008 Art in Action training

Youth Environmental Leadership Training (YEL!)

  • These trainings should be planned 9 months in advance for capacity purposes, however there is an emerging thought to encourage each AYEA Chapter to host one YEL training per year (ie, 8 in 2009!)

Upon demand, AYEA works in a collaborative process with interested school groups, tribes, and community leaders to design these two-day leadership workshops. YEL trainings focus on local/regional environmental concerns and leadership sessions chosen by the community and local youth. Possible topics/workshops may include: effective leadership, Traditional Environmental Knowledge and western perspectives on issues, introduction to media tools, public speaking/communication, and community action project planning. These trainings should be planned 9 months in advance for capacity purposes, however there is an emerging thought to encourage each AYEA Chapter to host one YEL training per year (ie, 8 in 2009!)

Statewide Leadership Retreat

  • Location: near Anchorage.
  • Timeline: Late July/August.
  • Tuition: $50 travel not included. Scholarships available for tuition and travel.

Every year AYEA leaders from across the state come together to map out a Campaign Action Plan for the following year. Check out the Campaigns page to learn more about the 2009 Renewable Energy Campaign and past years’ campaigns. This Retreat is quick (3 days), intensive (lots of campaign planning sessions), and fun! Preference is given to applicants who have been to other AYEA trainings or who are involved with AYEA chapters.