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Our Mission
Climate Optimism For Youth is an organization where our goal is to spread awareness to the younger generations on methods of how to help the effects of climate change. We are focusing on the younger generation because they are very impressionable and if we put ideas in their head that they can make a difference, they will carry it through their whole life.
Instead of teaching the negative impacts of climate change, we are focusing on the "optimism" part of the topic. On how anyone is capable of making a difference in the world.
Caroline Cosgrove
Caroline Cosgrove
cosgrovecar@students.holliston.k12.ma.us
Hi, my name is Caroline Cosgrove and I am a sophomore at Holliston High School. I have played tennis for about 10 years and began playing competitively about 6 years ago. When picking classes for my freshman year, I heard many great reviews about the Global Citizens Program and decided to join it. This program has taught me so many new things and created a new perspective for me. I am so excited to see what more great opportunities GCP brings me.
Patricia Osborne
Patricia Osborne
osbornepat@students.holliston.k12.ma.us
Hi! I'm Patricia and I am a sophomore at Holliston High School. Since middle school I have been greatly passionate about the environment and how to prevent the climate crisis from growing out of control. When I got to the highschool I was excited to find out that there was a program that I could channel my passion into, global citizens program. I had so much fun in intro to global citizens as a freshman, so I am happy to continue going down this path. Outside of academics, I do cross country, track, and volleyball. I can't wait to further our project and see what else GCP has in store for me.
Community Need
When people think of the effects of climate change, they mainly think of how it negatively affects the environment, however not many people are aware that it can also impact people's mental health. In our community, students turn to substance abuse when they feel that the problems of the world are too overwhelming and that they can’t make a difference. “Optimism” around climate change will help contribute to less anxiety and depression surrounding the climate crisis. By sharing helpful yet easily manageable tasks to help the environment, the goal is that all of the little acts will eventually add up and actually make a difference. The number one source of dopamine is the act of helping others, and these activities that we will lead the children to do, such as trash pickups, will leave them feeling accomplished and happier than before.
Our Progress
We have taught six separate health classes at the elementary school ranging from 3rd grade to 5th grade about our project. We presented important information about climate change while also empowering them that they can make a change. Engaging activities and games also took place in the classroom that allowed the kids to have fun at the same time. Additionally, we have started planning a beach clean up in Holliston that the children are excited to be apart of. Our hope is that by involving the youth in more of these sustainable oriented activities, they will feel more optimistic and carry it through their whole lives.
Our beach Clean Up:
On Sunday, May 18th we planned a clean up at Stoddard Park and the areas surrounding it (like Patoma Park) for the elementary school kids to go to. We organized the beach clean up where we played games, such as magic trash, surrounding picking up the trash to make it more engaging. These games gave the children an opportunity to win small prizes, so that they associate helping the environment with fun and optimism! Aside from the kids, we had seven volunteers helping out with the kids and helping to pick up trash themselves, where we received positive feedback about the event.
Community Partners
Throughout the semester, we have been partnering with Ashley Bouchard, the STEM coordinator at the Miller Elementary School. She has helped us coordinate a trip to the school so that we could teach six health classes about our project. We also reached out to Charles River Watershed Association, and have been using their website for our educational resources. Charles River Watershed Association strives to protect the Charles River through innovative and sustainable climate technologies to protect the environment and safety of Bostonians. We chose to work with Watershed because we share the same values and their resources can greatly help our project.
How Can The Community Help?
How Can The Community Help?
1.Spread the word about COFY
2. Follow our Instagram and Facebook!
@climateoptimismforyouth
Climate Optimism
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