Youth Programs
Engaging Youth in Climate Solutions
BLAST
BLAST stands for Building Leadership Around Sustainable Transformation and the flagship program is the BLAST Competition. Students in grades 9-12 come up with solutions to the environmental problems facing our world, receive expert mentorship to refine their projects, and finally pitch their initiatives at our yearly BLAST Competition to receive funding to implement their solutions. Other BLAST programs include internships, projects, and EcoBLAST.
Internships
As featured in the Chicago Tribune, through our intern program, high school and college students passionate about environmental change have the opportunity to take action while gaining valuable skills. Our interns develop and lead environmental initiatives, presenting to elected officials and organizing events to raise awareness and bring their ideas to reality.
Service
Through Accelerate Climate Solutions, youth can engage in valuable environmental service. Student volunteers have engaged in areas such as prairie restoration, fundraising, and presenting at local environmental summits.
Student-Led Projects
Accelerate Climate Solutions wants to support any student who has a good idea to address the climate crisis or protect the environment. Some projects that we support include:
Seeds of Hope: A project that places native prairie plant seeds in public and school libraries and our 1st place BLAST winner. Accelerate is their pass-through organization for funding.
Accelerate Supports Recycle Roundup, another BLAST project, through PR and volunteer support.
We also provide a platform for projects such as Reforest the Rainforest. ​
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If you're a student and have a project idea, we are here to help. Please contact us!
