Calling all high school students in Whatcom interested in collaborating with other youth on a climate action project!
Youth for the Environment and People (YEP!) provides an opportunity for students to share ideas and passions, learn about climate change solutions, engage in local stewardship projects, and work together with other youth in choosing, planning and implementing a group action project. And, of course, have fun!
YEP! participants will:
- Meet and work with youth in the region to create and implement a student-led action project
- Discover, empower, and refine individual skills and talents
- Practice stepping into leadership roles
- Connect with local organizations working to solve local climate change in our region
- Learn about local and global climate change solutions
- Participate in two local field days exploring hands-on solutions
YEP! runs for 10 weeks and is offered in both spring and fall semesters.
I had never had a chance to join an official group or be a part of a project to make a change and help the community. This was my first time and definitely not my last.”
— Ay, 2023 YEP! Participant
Spring 2026 theme: Food Waste
For the first time, this year we are offering two concurrent cohorts—one in Bellingham and one in Ferndale—that will join for an outside field day! Starting in February, two separate cohorts of fifteen students each from Whatcom County high schools will gather for our spring cohorts. Students will learn about how to prevent and reduce food waste, where our surplus food goes in Whatcom County, and how waste management can impact the state of our environment. From there we’ll explore solutions such as how we can implement low to no waste practices in our day to day lives. On a field day at a local recycling facility and a compost and soil facility, we’ll learn what happens to our recycling and food waste. Then, students will design and implement their own solution to the food waste issue through a group action project. Facilitators guide, support, and educate while students lead and work collaboratively on the group action project.
More details about the program
- Applicants must attend high school in Whatcom county
- YEP! is facilitated by Zoe Fry, Program Coordinator at RE Sources. This program will run for 10 weeks from February 23rd/26th until May 5th/7th (no meeting April 6th/9th for Spring Break)
- We provide a $150 stipend upon completion of the group project to compensate students for their time and efforts
If you want to participate but feel it would be easier to talk to someone over the phone or in person rather than apply through the link, please contact YEP@re-sources.org or call 360-733-8307.
Questions? Please contact:
Frequently Asked Questions
Applications are due by 10:00 p.m. on Sunday, February 8th.
You’ll be informed about acceptance by Tuesday, February 10th. You must confirm you want to accept the offer by Sunday, February 15th.
Note: all of the above correspondence will happen via email.
Applicants must attend high school in Whatcom County. There are 15 spots available in each cohort, Ferndale and Bellingham, for a total of 30 students.
Starting Monday, February 23rd, for Bellingham, and Thursday, February 26th, for Ferndale, YEP! runs on Mondays and Thursdays for 10 weeks including two field days, one on Saturday, March 7th and the second one TBD, ending on Monday May 4th, or Thursday May 7th (no meeting on April 6th/9th for Spring break).
For the Bellingham Cohort we will meet Mondays from 4-6 p.m. at RE Sources in Bellingham (above the RE Store). For the Ferndale Cohort, we will meet Thursdays from 2:30-4:30 p.m. at Ferndale High School Room 208.
We provide a $150 stipend upon completion of the group project to compensate students for their time and efforts. Students must attend 9 of the 12 meetings and participate in the group project to receive the stipend.