The Vision

The goal of the Youth Environmental Education Program (YEEP) is to increase Career Preparedness and Foster Environmental Stewardship. Throughout the community outreach process, two themes repeatedly mentioned were concerns about environmental resilience and the lack of youth programming in the neighborhood. The proposal of a Youth Education Program combines both of these into an engaging opportunity for the youth of Coney Island to gain skills  in an ever growing field that will also enable them to make a difference in their community and beyond. There are four main objectives that this recommendation aspires to achieve.

Why it Matters

How to Get it Done

Create a Supportive and Encouraging Youth Environment

• With the lack of youth spaces, this program would be a local, consistently occurring after school activity open to Middle and High School Students 

• This programs seeks to create a sense of pride and ownership amongst youth by facilitating activities focused on caring for Coney Island’s environment 

Foster and Support Interest in Environmental Science

• Whether prospective students have a prior interest in environmental science and careers or are simply interested in learning something new, they will be welcome to participate in the program.

Provide Academic and Career Support

Students will:

• Receive educational enrichment in general environmental science as well as have focused lessons on environmental resilience.

• Be advised on courses they should take to prepare for each level of their academic career, while pursuing a career in environmental science.

• Hear from speakers within various sectors of the environmental field.

Establish a Network of internships and jobs 

• Match students with paid opportunities with local environmentally focused organizations (with a preference on those neighborhood- based)

• After completing the program, this network will continue to be available as a resource for youth as they enter the workforce.

Decision Making and Governance:

The successful implementation of this recommendation is based upon collaborative leadership between financial stakeholders, environmental experts, educators, and community leaders. A Program Management Team will be responsible for recruiting staff and community volunteers, the overall running of operations, coordinating with community organizations and stakeholders, and managing the allocation of program funds. Program Educators will be responsible for creating the curriculum and goals for what students should gain from each term.  They should also maintain contact with CINRC as necessary to ensure an understanding of what youth on Coney Island need. An Administrative Team is necessary for managing the admissions process, direct communication with parents, and accounting for students during program hours. With parental support, a Youth Advisory Board should have input on programming and provide their perspective on activities of interest. 

Who Should be Involved

• As a trusted organization in Coney Island, CINRC should be made aware of operations within the program. They could serve as an additional community liaison and support in advertising the program throughout the neighborhood. CINRC would not be responsible for the execution of the program but would have the ability to engage with its operation at their availability. This could include co hosting open houses with local school administrators, helping to organize community meetings, promoting the program on social media and email blasts, or distributing flyers. CINRC could also be a representative contact for engaging with the community stakeholders whose involvement would support the program.  

• New York Aquarium:

• The Aquarium which currently hosts Community Board 13 meetings could be a potential host of the program  

• Coney Island Beautification Project:

•  This organization could serve as a community partner to participate in the development of student led clean ups and beautification efforts

• Local Schools 

• The support of schools in the neighborhood to will be integral in spreading information about the program through direct contact with students and their families 

• Kingsborough Community College 

• As a local college, it could be a resource for creating a network of student career and learning opportunities (such as their Offshore Wind Training Program)  

• Community Gardens and Green Spaces

• Objectives 3 and 4 which focus on activating open spaces and revitalizing community gardens could also lead to the development of  enriching outdoor activities 

Possible Sources of Funding: 

• The Climate Reality Project

• EPA- EJ Grant 

Implementation