High Schools Group

Semi-edited notes

In 1990 this was called the Schools and Youth Project. 1990’s description was: Students at all levels are encouraged to create their own projects and events addressing environmental issues. Cooperation between age groups, schools, youth organizations, and the elderly is emphasized. Existing projects include the organization of recycling programs in schools, letter-writing campaigns, and outdoor activities, such as beach clean-ups, educational field trips, and community gardens.

The Schools and Youth Group began in September 1990 as a spin-off of Kathy Armer's Earth Day 1990 efforts at BAA. While attending Menlo Atherton High School and volunteering at Earth Day headquarters, Kathy organized a class-credit-earning program to recruit fellow student volunteers. More than 60 students from M.A. participated, performing over 800 hours of work. When Earth Day 1990 events wrapped up, Kathy was determined to establish an ongoing environmental program for high school students. After graduating early from high school, Kathy deferred college to establish a youth-focused environmental program. By fostering and contacting other local environmental clubs, they formed a network which today boasts fifteen member high schools on the peninsula and in the East Bay. Current advisor Jim Steinmetz (1992).

Meetings

Between 1995? and 2003 the Schools Group met every Wednesday night at the BAA office. Meetings were self-organized and run by the students, allowing them to exercise autonomy and learn leadership and consensus-building skills.

Often the first half of the meeting featured a guest presenting about a local, regional, or even international environmental or social justice topic. Guests came from within BAA (such as the leaders of BAA’s other projects), and outside the organization (such as professors, campaigners, activists, etc.). Sometimes the meetings were more social than working meetings, a means by which teens could share about their lives and challenges in an open environment, among like minds and supportive friends.

Highlights 1990–2002

1990

• Under the leadership of Kathy Armer, a Menlo-Atherton High School student, the Schools and Youth group is created to provide high school students with a forum to discuss environmental concerns, network with other schools, develop leadership skills, and take direct environmental action.

1991

• Early efforts focus on starting recycling programs in Mid-Peninsula schools.
• Thanks to the support of Community Foundation of Santa Clara County and the Compton Foundation, BAA created a High School Environmental Organizer. The packet included general organizing information, a guide to starting a recycling program in schools, how-to-organize a letter writing table, fact sheets on environmental issues, and more.

1992

• SAGE (Student Advocates for a Green Earth) is formed — a larger high school environmental coalition including students from Santa Cruz, San José, the Mid-Peninsula, and Berkeley.
• The Schools Group placed over 1,000 recy­cling bins in local schools and businesses, published and distributed an environmental club organizing packet, stenciled Palo Alto sewer drains with "NO DUMPING THIS FLOWS TO BAY," cleaned beaches, and planted trees and wildflowers. Seven students form the advisory council, their functions running the gamut of program organizing, including facilitator, secretary, intergroup communications director, outside group communications director, activities director, speakers and video coordinator, and fundraising coordinator. Many of these students volunteer 5–10 hours per week with the project.
• May 16, 1992 — Schools Environmental Fair at the Mitchell Park Amphitheater in Palo Alto. Speakers, live music and environmental booths focusing on alternative energy and transportation. (Holly or Jim) (Action vol 3 no 3)

1993

• Activities include plantings trees in the Stanford foothills, cleaning up San Francisquito Creek, protesting Mitsubishi’s role in rainforest destruction, and helping in the BAA’s East Palo Alto Community Garden.

1994

• Students begin converting a VW Rabbit to run on electricity.
• The EnviroZestFest (later renamed Deep Green Global Training) launches an annual leadership conference for students from all around Northern California.

1995

• Schools Group receives the Youth Service Award for Outstanding Community Service.

1996

• Students launch a campaign against the military dictatorship in Burma.
• An outreach program to elementary schools begins, later to be called YEA! (Youth Environmental Action).

1997

• Students educate local school districts about alternative paper products and supply them with 100% recycled and Arbokem paper.
• A summer trip takes students into Headwaters Forest.
• The Burma campaign pays off when the Palo Alto City Council signs a selective purchasing agreement saying it will not purchase anything from Burma.

1998

• A human sign asking “WHY NOT CARPOOL?” over Highway 101 gets media attention and asks Monday morning commuters a poignant question.

1999

• Schools Group launches a campaign against The Gap.

2000

• Members participate in the campaign to protect the Stanford foothills from development.
• Members Liz Deitrich and ? organize Rock the Earth, a benefit concert for the Schools Group held at the Palo Alto YWCA, featuring local bands The Wunder Years, Sullen, Spishak, Moodfrye, Slip To Save You, Corrosive 8, Wasted Time, Sidekicks, Mad Drama, and Sometimes Y.

2001

• Human sign over Highway 101 proclaims “SAVE THE FOOTHILLS.”
• Members of the Schools Group travel to Minnesota to conduct a workshop on youth activism at the By Youth For Youth conference.
• A small group of hikes to the famed Postcard Grove to celebrate Earth Day in Headwaters Grove.

2002

• Students revitalize the Mountain View community garden, feed the hungry with surplus fruit.
• Annual Deep Green conference hosts Julia Butterfly Hill, Sat Santokh, and other notables.

2003

• Some stuff

2004

• Julia “Butterfly” Hill, Patrick Rainsbourgh (Rainforrest Action Network) and others speak at Deep Green conference.

Events organized

• May 16, 1992 — Schools Environmental Fair at the Mitchell Park Amphitheater in Palo Alto. Speakers, live music and environmental booths focusing on alternative energy and transportation. (Holly or Jim) (Action vol 3 no 3)
• Concert at the Keystone? Linsey and Ramona
• Deep Green Global Training

Notable activities

• Ontario, CN, trip
• Trinity Alps trip
• Doug Thron’s Headwaters slide show
• Earth Day in Headwaters Grove (2001)

Campaigns

• Mitsubishi Campaign
• Burma Campaign
• Gap Campaign