South Tahoe High Climate Crew attends Citizens' Climate Lobby Conference

Members of the Climate Crew, an environmental club at South Tahoe High School, attended the 2020 Citizens Climate Lobby Conference in Oakland last weekend.

Led by Lindsay Richardson, a teacher at STHS and advisor of the Climate Crew, eight seniors from the club took the four-hour drive to Oakland to hear new ideas on how to encourage the community and their peers to be environmentally friendly.

First up was the Citizens’ Climate Lobby (CCL) executive director, Mark Reynolds, with a passionate speech about the late founder and president of Citizens’ Climate Lobby, Marshall Saunders.

The members then were directed to the library where members of the CCL taught the youth how to speak to their state representatives. They were also educated about environmentally beneficial bills on both the state and federal level.

The second day consisted of listening to a student from Oakland Technical High School read her own poem about the damage done to our climate.

In a brainstorming workshop, students spoke about environmental issues in their own communities. Students were encouraged to write down their ideas on posters hanging on the wall.

“The whole experience was very educational and eye-opening,” said Serena Palaroan, member of Climate Crew. “It motivates me and inspires me to do more with my life and to encourage others in relation to the climate.”

During breaks and lunches, older members of CCL and attendees crowded around the eight STHS seniors, asking questions about their cause and admiring their motivation to help the community.

Citizens’ Climate Lobby is a non-profit, nonpartisan, grassroots advocacy organization focused on national policies to address climate change. They hold several conferences around the country and the South Tahoe High group attended one of only two held in California.