The climate crisis has caused many parents – and children – to fear for the future. They wonder how best to help protect the climate to make a brighter tomorrow for themselves, their family and people around the world. Climate organizers broadly agree supporting or joining up with an organization that helps push for change at the community or even policy level can make an impact that stretches far beyond your household. This month, Washington Parent profiles a few of these organizations in the DMV where teens, parents or even the whole family can make a difference.
Citizen’s Climate Lobby
A global organization, Citizen’s Climate Lobby (CCL) has chapters in Bethesda-Chevy Chase, Silver Spring-Takoma Park, DC, Alexandria, Fairfax County, Loudoun County and Prince William County. Chapters meet to discuss and plan local actions, as well as participate in coordinated movements of the organization on a national or global level.
CCL’s Youth Action Team is focused on supporting youth volunteers under the age of 18 in their quest to get involved with climate activism in their own community. Though many actions are taken in local chapters, there are also regional and national conferences youth can attend and many coordinated actions take youth volunteers right up the steps of the Capitol. As volunteer Franklin Wu states, “Youth voices are growing, and we know the time for meaningful climate action is now.”
Climate Action Heroes
For younger children, the National Children’s Museum in DC has created Climate Action Heroes, a set of superheroes fighting to protect our world, heroes that you and your child can embody. By taking the quiz to find out which hero you are, participants can find what hero is right for them, then receive monthly missions from the website to learn more about climate change and discover ways to get involved with being our planet’s hero.
Having taken the quiz myself, I discovered that I’m a Mighty Meteorologist, meaning my current mission is to explore data about our atmosphere as recorded from space to learn how the climate has changed over the years. Other current missions include planning for a no-plastic week, making a model of how trees prevent floods and creating wildflower seed bombs to assist pollinators. All missions stay up on the site, giving a backlog of additional activities for your hero to engage in.
Rock Creek Conservancy
Rock Creek Conservancy provides intergenerational opportunities to protect the entirety of Rock Creek Park and the creek itself through activities like weed wrangling, water quality monitoring and extreme stream cleanup. It also plays host to the Rock Creek Conservation Corps (RC3), a 6-week summer youth-employment opportunity that helps build a connection between high school students and their public lands while also offering them their first job in conservation.
Carla Flores, a member of RC3’s founding class in 2015, reflected on her time with the program, where she helped repair erosion damage and remove invasive plants from the park. Flores said, “It’s a lot of hard work, but … at the end of the day we look back at how we started and how we finished. I always feel accomplished in what I got done that day.” Even in abstract terms, the program is a boon to the local community, but the personal impact it has on the youths who participate in it help make it truly special.
Sierra Club Climate Leadership Program
The DC chapter of Sierra Club, an environmental advocacy group, offers a program aimed at teens ages 14-18 that provides them with opportunities to explore and develop leadership and mentorship skills through working on local advocacy, community projects and education initiatives. The next application window opens May 2025.
The Sierra Club Potomac Region Outings (SCPRO) is another arm of the club that may be of interest to families hosting activities like hikes, allowing volunteers to enjoy the nature they’re fighting to protect. SCPRO also offers valuable practical skills training, such as wilderness survival first-aid courses.
Youth Action Institute
The YAI is a program under the Edlavitch Jewish Community Center* aimed at getting youth ages 11 to 18 involved in issues including climate change. Volunteer opportunities give youth a chance to provide direct assistance to the community while earning student service hours. The YAI’s climate action group is entirely teen-driven and run, allowing for youths to make a difference their way and explore ideas to drive forward change that their adult counterparts may have never thought of.
*Youth do not need to be Jewish to participate.
Liam McCrickard holds a B.A. in creative and professional writing from Goucher College. He is assistant editor at Washington Parent. He also works as a freelance designer, writer and editor of tabletop role-playing games.
Liam McCrickard holds a B.A. in creative and professional writing from Goucher College. He is former assistant editor at Washington Parent. He works as a freelance designer, writer and editor of tabletop role-playing games.
Liam McCrickard holds a B.A. in creative and professional writing from Goucher College. He is former assistant editor at Washington Parent. He works as a freelance designer, writer and editor of tabletop role-playing games.
