Earth Day Summit

Reclaim Our Futures: Climate Solutions for People + Planet—2024 Earth Day Festival

Sunday, 12pm-4pm, April 28, 2024

For Earth Day 2024, BAYCS hosted a festival bringing together over 100 students from across the Bay Area and over a dozen high school environmental clubs and local youth-centered climate groups for a magical day of climate liberation, crafting, hope-making, circular community + economy, and celebration! The festival included interactive activities, youth-run climate justice-themed booths, a climate art fair, sustainable crafts, live music, and food in Lindley Meadow in Golden Gate Park! Our hands-on educational and art-making booths leverage the creative arts to center environmental literacy, climate resilience, and justice-rooted solutions. Guests centered intersectional environmentalism in the fight for an equitable future!

Gallery

A collection of photos taken during the Earth Day Festival

Booths

Look below for a full list of the interactive youth-led booths from the festival!

The Nueva School - Youth Power in Politics

Nueva’s Earth Day letter-writing table harnessed the power of political change to spotlight the youth perspective in the government. Attendees learned about the most impactful bills, resolutions, and pledges that will shape the future of our communities, and how you can advocate for them through sharing your climate story!

California Academy of Science’s Youth Action for the Planet - Co-Creating Climate Futures Through Nature-Based Solutions

Youth Action for the Planet brought elements of their Earth Day Pop-Up Exhibit to share the latest biodiversity research coming out of the California Academy of Sciences and got attendees involved with the present and future of youth climate activism through collaborative artivism. YAP also registered attendees to participate in SF’s City Nature Bioblitz Challenge to make as many species observations as they can with the iNaturalist app.

Lincoln High School x Youth vs Apocalypse (YVA) - Environmental Justice-Inspired Screenprinting

Lincoln’s YVA team led an environmental justice and youth-centered screenprinting activity creating take-home patches with the Youth vs. Apocalypse logo. In addition, they shared informational posters exploring local climate justice issues, who YVA is, and how to get involved with their programs.

Summit Shasta Environmental Club - Building the Circular Economy Through Upcycling

The Summit Shasta Environment Club dove into a world of creativity as they crafted collage art from discarded materials. Guests discovered the importance of using ALL 3 R’s (reduce, reuse, recycle) and its role in the circular economy. Attendees embraced the upcycling movement and incorporated regenerative practices into the community.

Alameda High School - Soil Ecology & Planting

Amplify of Alameda High School repurposed egg cartons to plant herb seeds! Guests decorated egg cartons to raise herb plants in. Let’s keep egg cartons out of the trash and return them to the soil!

Project Super Plants - Earth Day Haikus

Guests joined the Project Super Plants team to create interactive, collaborative Earth Day haikus (think magnetic poetry, but even bigger!) Project Super Plants is led by a team of 30 high schoolers who run climate modules and grow Super Plants in schools throughout the Bay Area.

Archie Williams High School Environmental & Social Justice Academy - Climate Light-Keepers: The Energy Revolution

SEA-DISC students highlighted their energy solutions projects focused on transitioning to a renewable, sustainable, and regenerative energy future. In addition, they spotlighted their accomplishments from 7 two-year climate projects.

The San Francisco Department of Elections - The Power of the Youth Vote!

The San Francisco Department of Elections’ high school ambassadors provided information on voting and share the materials necessary to register or pre-register to vote. Guests received complimentary tote bags or sunglasses and learned more about the voting process!

Saint Ignatius High School - Environmental Jeopardy

The St. Ignatius Green Team hosted an interactive “Jeopardy”-style game that explored the climate movement and tangible solutions. From environmental issues across the globe to fun facts about BAYCS, guests had various opportunities to develop climate awareness as well as win prizes! Prizes included sweet treats and stickers.

Urban High School - Eco-Trivia Quest: Exploring the SF Bay Area’s Ecosystems

Urban’s booth hosted trivia on the biodiversity characteristics of the San Francisco Bay Area Ecosystem, along with some environmental science topics. Attendees had the opportunity to win seed packets. In addition, they distributed information on how to set up your own backyard composter!

Marin Academy Climate Action - Climate Policy Competition

Marin Academy's interactive booth, guided attendees in crafting impactful letters to elected officials advocating for stronger environmental legislation. By completing letters, guests earned entries into an exciting raffle featuring tickets to various eco-inspired events and experiences. Beyond just promoting conscious consumerism, their goal was to empower individuals to realize their collective power in driving systemic change.

The Bay Area Youth Climate Summit - An Earth-Cetric Art Exploration

BAYCS hosted an interactive peek into sustainable art! Guests learned about microplastics and how using Earth-based art materials can be valuable to our planet and our creative minds! The booth had plant-based paint open for visitors to use to create their own art, and had a space to display the art when it was finished.

The Bay Area Youth Climate Summit - Thrifting for the Planet

The fast fashion industry is responsible for a staggering 10% of global carbon dioxide emissions, making it a top contributor to the climate crisis. In addition, corporations like Shien, H&M, & Nike are epicenters of worker exploitation in the Global South and major funders of deforestation and fossil fuel colonialism. Our booth engaged with a selection of vintage clothing & jewelry. Usher in the circular economy by bringing an item and receiving an item!