2010 Environmental Youth Summit

May 21, 2010 - PRLog -- Contact:  Jan Spinato 702-370-7238
Nation's First Environmental Youth Summit by America's Schools Program
High school winner receives 12-day eco-tour of Australia


Las Vegas -- AMERICA'S SCHOOLS FIRST  ENVIRONMENTAL YOUTH SUMMIT

The nation's first America's Schools "Environmental Youth Summit" is being held at the Las Vegas Springs Preserve on Saturday, May 22nd, sponsored by NV Energy and Jet Global Holdings.  The day will begin at 7:00 AM with registration, and conclude at 4:30 PM with the announcement of Nevada's new 2010 Environmental Youth Ambassador.

Activities and environmental workshops for students will include Nevada's first  "Environmental Youth Fashion Show", produced by Tarkanian Middle School.  For the past month, Tarkanian students have been designing and creating all types of clothing and accessories from everyday household product waste and consumer packaging.  they have turned these discards into a wide variety of fashions, which will be modeled by Tarkanian students at a 12 noon "Environmental Fashion Show". The Summit participation is free to all to all middle and high school students. Capacity for the event is 400 students, based on a first come first serve basis.

Thousands of dollars in environmental contest prizes will be presented over the course of the day, with a free lunch provided to all participants, along with Summit T-shirts and caps to all participants.

Prizes will include all-expense-paid eco trips to Australia and Yellowstone National Park for two students. The trips are part of the Environmental School Contest conducted through Clark County School District over the past school year.

Additional prizes being awarded include three $950 electric bikes, one of which will be given as a random door prize to one of the 400 attending students.

The "Environmental Youth Summit" is the culmination of a two year environmental campaign in co-venture with Clark County School District.  This year featured an Environmental Essay Contest, at the high school level, and an Environmental Project Contest, at the middle school level.

The original youth environmental effort began in 2008 at the high school level.  The first contest generated hundreds of entries.   In April of 2009, a selection committee, made up of Las Vegas/Henderson businesses leaders, CCSD officials and environmental scientists, selected Kayla Cothrun, from among 10 finalists, as Nevada's first "Environmental Youth Ambassador".  Kayla won a 10-day trip to the Thula Thula Game Preserve in South Africa.  While there she met with Lawrence Anthony, author of Babylon's Ark.  She learned about his exploits saving the animals at the Bagdad Zoo, and his current efforts working with the wildlife in Africa.

Nevada's 2010-11 Environmental Youth Ambassador will be announced at the Environmental Youth Summit on May 22nd.  This year's winner will be taking a 10-day Eco Tour of Australia.  Many media personalities, CCSD officials, leading corporate representatives, and political leaders will be present at this history making event for Nevada's youth. Registration begins at 7:00AM

8:15 AM Keynote Speaker will be:

Michael W. Yackira - President and Chief Executive Officer of NV Energy

The America's Schools Program is dedicated to helping preserve and protect our environment through education, partnerships and programs. With support from NV Energy, Jet Global Holdings, Las Vegas Springs Preserve and the Desert Research Institute, they have inspired hundreds of students to take an interest in protecting the environment.

For further information, please contact Summit coordinator, Jan Spinato, at (702) 370-7238 or go to www.aspenvironmentalyouthsummit.org.

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About the America's Schools Program - America's Schools Program is dedicated to helping preserve and protect our environment through education, partnerships and programs.