At this year’s NAAEE 2025 Conference, we were excited to share our session, “Empower Youth, Activate Change: Student-Led Sustainability Solutions in Action,” which offered a look at how high school students can move from learning about environmental challenges to taking meaningful action in their own communities.

The session explored how environmental education becomes truly transformative when students are given the tools, guidance, and support to design, implement, and lead their own sustainability projects. Through the Walking Softer Education program, students across U.S. communities are already addressing pressing local issues from waste management to habitat restoration, and demonstrating that young people are powerful catalysts for change.

We also highlighted how our project funding and step-by-step guidance can remove barriers, enabling students to dream bigger, solve problems creatively, and see tangible results from their efforts. Our goal was to show educators that youth-led environmental action is not only possible but it’s scalable, impactful, and deeply rewarding. We’re excited to continue supporting educators who want to activate youth leadership in environmental problem-solving. For those interested, registration for the Walking Softer Education program is now open.

-Andrea Garcia