Detroit Youth Energy Squad

The Youth Energy Squad, a program of EcoWorks, grows the next generation of green leaders by engaging youth from diverse backgrounds in projects that make their homes, schools, and communities more sustainable.

• About Us
  BUILDING A SCHOOL-WIDE CULTURE OF CONSERVATION
  
  - Energy and Water Savings: The Youth Energy Squad generated an estimated $1.2 Million in utility savings among partner schools between 2012-2015 (about $8,000 per school per year).
  
  - Green Teams: Highly trained AmeriCorps Green School Coordinators empower students to take ownership of their school by tracking resource consumption, identifying opportunities for savings, and engaging peers, teachers and administrators in environmental stewardship.
  
  - Hands-On Projects: The Youth Energy Squad offers a selection of structured projects for green teams that emphasize recycling, saving energy and water, gardening and healthy eating, and more.
  
  INFUSING ACADEMICS WITH HANDS-ON “S.T.E.A.M.” ACTIVITIES
  
  - Place-Based Learning: We work with teachers to use the school and community as laboratories for hands-on learning that works for multiple learning styles.
  
  - Real World Application: Student-led inquiry fosters critical thinking and strengthens both analytical and language abilities.
  
  - Adaptable: We tailor interdisciplinary lessons to meet standards from grades 3 -12, including Common Core and NextGen Science.
  
  CONNECTING THE CLASSROOM WITH THE COMMUNITY
  
  - Capstone Projects: Students develop and implement on-going service learning projects that benefit the community in areas such as weatherization, urban agriculture, water conservation, and neighborhood beautification.
  
  - Parent and Community Involvement: We provide free workshops and supplies that assist families in lowering their energy and water bills by an average of $250 annually.
  
  NURTURING A DIVERSE GENERATION OF [GREEN] LEADERS
  
  - Civic Engagement: Students learn collaborative teamwork, project planning and management, communication and conflict resolution skills, and how to partner with community organizations.
  
  - Sustainable Living: We teach students how to practice sustainability in their daily lives, from learning to tackle their own energy bills to growing and preparing healthy local foods. Students will use these skills for years to come.
  
  - Leadership Development: We grow students as sustainability ambassadors in their schools and offer opportunities to present their work at local and statewide conferences. Students learn to rigorously establish their ideas and use their voices to make change.
  
  - Career Development (High School): We expose students to a variety of career paths and offer a limited number of paid summer positions and scholarships. We regularly help students write resumes, manage college applications, find internships, practice interviews, and support them with letters of recommendation.
• Our Impact
  The Youth Energy Squad saved 60 schools an estimated $1.2 Million from 2012-2015. Savings vary considerably based on the school’s characteristics; schools average a 5.3% reduction in utility costs per year, with some saving as much as 20% through behavior changes only. We will help you track your energy use to determine your savings.
  
  But ultimately, YES is about growing the next generation of green leaders in Detroit and beyond. Our students have presented their work at local, national, and international conferences, won awards based on their work, and even met with world leaders to discuss issues important to them and their community. The real impact of our work lies in passions of our students.