Education

Together we can create meaningful global change one step at a time.

Empower Youth. Activate Change.

Together we can create meaningful global change one step at a time.

The Walking Softer Education Program, in collaboration with The Center for Scholars & Storytellers at UCLA, is designed for high school students to learn about climate change and sustainability. The program takes a solutions-oriented approach, challenging students to think strategically about their ability to lead and create a positive impact on their community.

How Our Education Program Works

Step 1

We provide participating groups with comprehensive climate literacy and sustainable systems lesson plans, a project framework, and project funding.

Step 2

Our partners use these materials with their student groups to design and implement a community project.

Step 3

Student groups share their work and continue to grow the impact of their project.

Contact Us To Sign Up

education@walkingsofter.org

Student Outcomes

Enhance understanding of the role humans play in both causing and solving climate change and unsustainable systems

Be able to effectively articulate challenges and opportunities related to climate change and sustainable systems

Take informed personal and community-wide action to become part of the environmental solutions

Deepen understanding of green jobs and educational paths

Feel empowered to pursue personal environmental interests

Scholarships for a better planet.

What’s more? High school juniors and seniors participating in our Education Program are eligible for a $5,000 to $20,000 scholarship should they choose to apply sustainability to their academic and professional future.

The Walking Softer scholarship aims to support Education Program participants in their pursuit of furthering their sustainability efforts at a 2-year, 4-year, or vocational school. There are no specific major requirements, but students should have the desire to apply sustainability in whatever path they choose and to progress toward equitable and just environmental solutions. 

Active participants

Surfrider Foundation

After-school clubs for high school students engaging in climate change and sustainability projects in various locations around the country

Mount Saint Joseph High School

Implementing the program in an after school environmental engineering club setting in Baltimore, Maryland

Herculaneum High School

After school “green club” went through program materials and implemented a community project to reduce food waste in Herculaneum, Missouri

Lexington Catholic High School

Environmental science class went through lesson plans and created a green space in the school quad in Lexington, Kentucky

St. Mary’s Ryken

The after school “National Science Honors Society” club participated in the program in Leonardtown, Maryland

St. Francis Neighborhood Center

After school program went through materials and hosted a community clean-up in Baltimore, Maryland

Rockaway Park High School for Environmental Sustainability

AP Environmental Science Class participated in the program in Queens, New York

All-Stars Competition

Participating groups are eligible and encouraged to enter the All-Stars Competition, where groups will create a video highlighting the community project their group worked on during the program.

The videos will be presented to a panel of judges during the virtual competition night. Using provided criteria, the judges will select winners, and all members of the winning teams will receive sustainable rewards!

This competition is an opportunity for students to celebrate the work they’ve done, as well as learn about what other students are doing to positively impact the environment in their own communities.

2023 All-Stars Competition is now closed.
If you are interested in participating in our 2024 competition, email us.

Career Night

Walking Softer Education participating students are eligible and encouraged to join our Career Night and learn about green jobs and educational paths from young professionals working on sustainability in diverse ways. The Career Night will deepen students' awareness of the growing demand and opportunities available in sustainability paths, and allow them to ask questions and learn directly from panelists.

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