Published: January 13, 2009 07:12 pm      

Teens have environment for leadership

Program puts focus on issues at local level

TRAVERSE CITY -- Teens who want to make a difference in their local environment have a new opportunity to make their voices heard.

The recently formed Youth Environmental Society of Grand Traverse, YES! GT, allows area teens ages 13-19 the chance to get involved in addressing environmental and conservation issues at the local level. The program, based on the statewide Michigan 4-H Youth Conservation Council, is looking for students who are eager to take on a challenge.

"It will be a lot of work, but the results can be amazing," said Andrea Grix, the Michigan 4-H Youth Conservation coordinator.

Grix, at an orientation for interested participants held last week at the Boardman Nature Center, said that many teens want to participate on the council because it includes opportunities to develop leadership skills.

"It looks great on resumes, too," Grix said.

Grand Traverse County is among nine counties statewide to establish 4-H Youth Conservation Councils, based on the statewide Michigan 4-H Youth Conservation Council that began in 1999 as a way to help teens become involved in state government.

The youth-driven council, as a team, will select a conservation issue, then research the topic, develop oral and written presentations and make recommendations to appropriate local governmental agencies.

"You make a presentation to elected officials with your research to back up and hopefully you can impact their decisions," said Jennifer Curtis, a member of the statewide program from Nashville, Mich., who presented at the orientation.

Curtis, who has been involved in the statewide program for four years, urged participants to think big when setting their goals.

"Choose an issue that is important to you and to your county," Curtis said.

Fife Lake teens Jamie Jacques, Addie Dutton and Courtney Steile, who plan to participate in YES! GT, had several ideas on issues they would like to address.

"I would like to find out more about what we can do to help," said Steile, who along with her friends discussed school recycling, litter control and Fife Lake milfoil eradication as possible topics they could tackle.

For more information on Youth Environmental Society of Grand Traverse, YES! GT, call Kathryn Lepera at 922-4836.