Hudson Valley Students and Teachers Bring “Youth Climate Summit” Experiences to Albany for Youth Advocacy Day

Each year, students and educators involved in Audubon’s conservation programs wake up as early as 4:00 am to travel to the State Capital in Albany for our annual Youth Advocacy Day. There, students meet with legislators to share stories and experiences about their local ecosystems, why they matter, and the work being done to protect them.

One participant from Long Island shared his experience building shelters for Least Terns and watching in awe as he witnessed a chick finally approach the shelter and duck its head into the shade. The lawmaker listening to his story immediately asked to see photos of the project and the birds.

“I look forward to these Youth Advocacy Days every year. We get to connect our students with their legislators, and we also get to connect these legislators with constituents they may not otherwise have the opportunity to speak with,” says Erin McGrath, policy director for Audubon New York. “It’s a win-win.”

Last year, Lexi Klahn attended the Youth Advocacy Day as a young professional representing the Hudson Valley; this year, she brought a team of students along.

As the program manager for Audubon’s Hudson Valley sanctuaries—including Constitution Marsh Audubon Center and Sanctuary—she has been working with this group of students since the fall, teaching them about climate change, conservation, and advocacy through the center’s Youth Climate Summit program.

Inspired by The Wild Center’s Youth Climate Program, Constitution Marsh began running its own Youth Climate Summits in 2022. As of this past fall, it is held as a series of interactive lessons Klahn teaches inside classrooms across the Hudson Valley.

One of these lessons is fully focused on advocacy. Using real-world case studies—including some from work across the National Audubon Society’s network—and other tools, Klahn showed her students how people are advocating for the environment and how they can be part of that work.

“In this day and age, many teenagers are struggling to find ways to make a difference in the world they live in,” says Klahn. “It is so important for them to know that even if they aren’t yet able to vote, they’re still constituents and they still have a voice.”

When the opportunity arose for some of her students and teachers to attend this year’s Youth Advocacy Day, Klahn jumped on it.

Four students and teachers joined her on the full-day trip up to Albany. Throughout the day, they spoke with different legislators about climate change in the Hudson Valley region and ways their ecosystems were important to them.

“As a teacher and an environmentalist, I never knew it was possible for me and my students to lobby together,” says Kathleen Westervelt, a teacher from Putnam Valley Central School District who attended the event. “I was very proud to see my students share what the environment and environmental education means to them.”

Nicolette Viano-Burnett, a teacher at Highland Falls-Montgomery Central School District, concurs: “It was incredibly empowering for both students and adults to advocate for their passion and love of nature. This experience will be remembered not only for the events that took place, but also for the valuable skills gained in turning ideas into real change at the state level.”

The students involved also found the experience transformative. “That day had a lot of firsts for me, and I’m very grateful,” said Minisha Singh, one of the student participants. “I learned that youth advocates are just as important as adult advocates when lobbying. Voices coming from a variety of people make a significant impact, and I learned that my experience and voice hold value, and can impact people and the environment. I’m incredibly grateful for the educational experience and hope to lobby again in the future!”

Already, students and teachers have signed up for next year’s Youth Advocacy Day. But the opportunities for participating in advocacy and climate action for the students go far beyond one day of lobbying. 

As the year progresses, students involved in the Youth Climate Summit will work on designing and executing their Climate Action Plans. They’ll pull from Klahn’s lessons and their own experiences to address problems they see in their own communities—and beyond!

“The Youth Climate program shows what’s possible when Audubon brings young people together and gives them real opportunities to connect, learn, and lead,” said Rebecca Schultz, director of the Hudson Valley Sanctuaries. “When students are empowered, they bring the energy and creativity that will help shape the future of conservation—and they remind all of us why investing in youth leadership matters now more than ever.”

The Constitution Marsh Audubon Center and Sanctuary's Youth Climate Summit is made possible with generous support from lifelong birder Doug Bloom, past president and current vice-president of Bronx River-Sound Shore Audubon Society. Doug joined his local chapter over 65 years ago at the age of nine, and has been an officer leading their board in varying roles for 35 years.