In the summer of 2019, 350 Sacramento invited a group of youth between the ages of 15-24 to participate in a “Youth Camp for Climate Action” primarily organized by Ilonka Zlatar and other environmental justice organizers.
Campers were a part of a 3-day peer teaching group learning grassroots organizing skills to fight climate change combined with fun and classic camping activities; exploring the outdoors, swimming, hiking, and roasting marshmallows by the fire.
Transportation, food, and camping equipment was provided to all campers at no cost using a donation-based system by 350Sac members.
Day 1
The youth were split into color-coordinated teams. Ice breakers commenced and after acquainting with one another and setting up camp, each team read a portion of “The Sierra Club Movement Organizing Manual” and created posters to present to the camp community.
Day 2
Campers presented their work and team-building exercises were done. Each group discussed how they could personally implement the strategies in their home communities along with sketches on building a constituency and pressuring targets with power. All complete with some relaxation by the river and water gun fights.
Day 3
We summarized and discussed all that we learned and spent time learning to catch and release bugs and studying their forms.
