Youth Sustainability Fair
We developed a Youth Sustainability Fair to increase youth engagement in local climate education, highlight youth-led community work that is being done, and promote community building actions among youth.
The Youth Sustainability Fair was the brainchild of an Andover High School Student in the Environmental Science Internship Course (ESIC) working as an intern with Andover WECAN, a local climate group.
It was important that this would be a youth-led YSF.
Andover, MA
Highlights
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The biggest key to getting this first time Youth Sustainability Fair off the ground was having a highly motivated high school student who came up with the idea as her Andover WECAN internship project. She had the vision and Andover WECAN had the connections to community groups, nonprofits and youth groups working on climate action, conservation, pollinator and biodiversity campaigns, etc. Successful outreach to high school and community groups, plus the support of key sponsors and Andover Youth Services helped launch this event.
We learned that youth engagement is a high priority for many climate action nonprofits so interest was and is high.
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We had 30 groups sharing their work and we had about 150 attendees. We received positive feedback and a request to do the fair again in 2025 from town officials and our sponsors. This year we received our full funding request of $750 rather than $500 which tells us that they deemed the YSF an important youth and community event.
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Signage, banners, posters - $350
Supplies and materials - $100
Space rental/custodial cost - $600
Climate Games, video production - $150
Art Showcase materials/production - $250
Ice Cream Truck - $100
TOTAL - $1,550
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High School PAC, Rotary Club of Andover, Andover Cultural Council
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For more information contact Mary at pritchard.me@gmail.com
Steps to implement
Create a vision for Youth Sustainability Fair (YSF) and project description.
Our Vision: To increase youth engagement in local climate education, highlight youth-led community work that is being done, and promote community building actions among youth.
Write a project description outlining the scope of the Youth Sustainability Fair. This project description can be used for grant applications and outreach to students and community groups.
Research venue and date. We contacted Andover’s Cormier Youth Center which has a large gymnasium. We worked with the Director of Andover Youth Services to determine availability of the venue which was open the Saturday of school vacation/Earth Week.
Brainstorm list of high school groups, nonprofits, local groups and vendors. Include youth green teams from other towns and municipalities and reach out to determine interest in participating in a Youth Sustainability Fair.
Research local grant opportunities. WECAN’s YSF received grants from the Andover Cultural Council, AHS PAC, and Rotary Club of Andover. Be sure to ask for grantor logo when you receive the grant as you will want to include sponsor logos on all promotional materials.
Create YSF logo. WECAN worked with a graphic design artist (pro bono) to come up with our logo. Create YSF flyer and include both flyer and project description on all email outreach. We used Canva which has excellent templates for flyers. Post flyers in public community spaces and in schools.
You can add many different elements showcasing special talents within your community. For instance, include student artwork. Work with high school and middle school art teachers to solicit art for an Art Showcase. Or consider a student band, climate film screening, storytelling, etc. Determine video and tech needs. We used onsite TV with rolling slides provided by participants in the entrance room for added visual effect.
Rent climate games from Mass Energize for educational fun.
Brainstorm an interactive art installation to be a focal point for the YSF. This can be used as a backdrop for a photo opportunity for students and community leaders. Our first year, we used an All Hands on Deck sign with attendees outlining their hands and a word or phrase about the climate crisis. This year we are working on a Hope Tree – participants and attendees will be invited to hang a “leaf” from the tree with a word or phrase describing their hope for the planet. Leaves will be made from recycled art classroom paper.
Communications – what communication channels work well in your community (social and print media, lawn signs, banners, etc.):
Send out email invitations to all high school, middle school, community youth groups and community groups/nonprofits to participate in the fair. This phase requires time consuming emailing and outreach.
Create YSF event webpage with information about the fair, the list of participating groups and a thank you to all sponsors with their logos. Continue to update webpage as more participating groups sign on.
Create list of social media sites and begin promoting the fair at least two months in advance of the event date.
Map out foam core signage needs, banners and other signs. For example, on-street sandwich boards or a feather flag help grab attention. Consider thank you to sponsors poster, thank you to participating groups poster, and directional signage in building.
Work with local printer to produce posters, banner, etc. three-to-four weeks prior to the event.
10. Determine if concessions will be provided. Our YSF was scheduled from 1:00-3:00 p.m. so snacks weren’t needed. The venue had both water fountains and a water refill station. The ice cream truck stationed outside added a little extra oomph.
11. Work on venue logistics. Create a floor plan with participant tables, information table, artwork displays, climate games and interactive art installation. Ask participants if they require access to an outlet.
12. Determine video and tech needs. We used onsite TV with rolling slides provided by participants in the entrance room for added visual effect.
13. Determine number of volunteers needed the day of the event. Solicit youth volunteers from the high school and community to help with parking, unloading of cars, guiding participants and vendors to their assigned tables, staffing the information table, photographing the event, and set up and breakdown.
14. Send email invitations to local leaders – members of the Select Board or Town Council, School Committee members, State Representatives and Senator for community, etc. Outline the importance of the event based on vision statement. Encourage student YSF organizers to attend a Select Board mtg and School Board mtg to personally invite them to come to the YSF. Note that there will be a photo opportunity with students.
15. Day of event, have fun!
Making it Great!
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What worked well
The idea of a Youth Sustainability Fair captured the imaginations of many groups in the community. Having so many groups sign on to participate from the outset was the boost we needed to successfully apply for grants, secure a venue, and get permission from Andover Public Schools for student participation.
It was also key that AHS has an Environmental Science Internship Course program with high school students embedded in community nonprofits related to climate action and sustainability. The students' teacher and advisor was key to pulling together student-led projects that would be foundational to the YSF.
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What worked less well
Initially, we had planned to engage with the elementary and middle schools to create or demonstrate sustainability projects they could showcase at the Youth Sustainability Fair. We learned that green teams in Andover's schools aren’t thriving. We did outreach to a number of schools with little to no response which was time-consuming and disappointing. We have identified one school which has prioritized sustainability programs in all grades and plan to work with our School Committee to see this school's sustainability program as a template for Andover's public schools.
One of the frustrations in major event planning is the time lag between emailing and receiving a response. Many timeline actions are based on the constant flow of communication. Waiting to get an answer, waiting to have an action executed in a timely manner can be very frustrating. There is much that is beyond the organizers control which is why building in lead-time throughout the year is critical.
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Advice
Initially, we had planned to engage with the elementary and middle schools to create or demonstrate sustainability projects they could showcase at the Youth Sustainability Fair. We learned that green teams in Andover's schools are close to non-existent. We did outreach to a number of schools with little to no response which was time-consuming and disappointing. We have identified one school which has prioritized sustainability programs in all grades and plan to work with our School Committee to see this school's sustainability program as a template for Andover's public schools.
