Worried About Climate Change? San Diego Students Can Find Solutions in the Energizing San Diego Challenge

By Emily Mallen

Seven in 10 youth report being worried about climate change, and they are looking for the skills on how to respond, says a recent survey from the Institute for Sustainability & Social Justice at Sacred Heart University. 

One way to leave youth empowered? Give them the education and tools they need to actively make a difference in their communities. As such, SEI is excited to announce the launch of the new 2025 Energizing San Diego Challenge! This challenge, which will run in the fall and spring, is an exciting opportunity for middle and high school students in San Diego to inspire sustainable change while learning about energy use and environmental leadership. 

In this 3-part challenge, students learn about energy and power, then use their newfound knowledge to audit their campus using industry-standards tools and lead a school-wide campaign to conserve energy. Students develop technical energy career skills, as well as transferable project management, team work, public speaking, graphic design, communication, and leadership skills. All challenge materials are available in English and Spanish. Challenge activities also help participants develop leadership skills and can be completed as a class, in small groups/clubs, or even individually!  

100% of students of past SEI challenges have reported that as a result of participating, they are more likely to take action or change their behavior to improve or protect the environment.
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While registration was recommended by early October, registration for the challenge is still open! If you miss this round, keep an eye out for the Spring version of this challenge!