Upper Shore Youth Environmental Action Summit

Our annual Upper Shore Youth Environmental Action Summit is a FREE conference-style event to empower youth environmental action through networking with peers & professionals.

The 2024 Summit, hosted by ShoreRivers and the Maryland Association for Outdoor and Environmental Education, saw 150 students participate in a school day field trip for high school students in Upper Eastern Shore counties. Students had the opportunity to attend workshops led by environmental action experts, network with professionals in green career fields, and learn more about student environmental action from their peers.

Learn more about the 2024 Summit!

9:30–9:45am | Registration
9:30–11am | Networking Brunch. Fuel up and meet representatives from community organizations and green careers.
11–11:20am | Welcome and Event Kickoff | Featuring keynote speaker Angela Crenshaw, Director of the Maryland Park Service
11:30am–12:10pm | Rotating Workshop Session 1. Choose from engaging workshops led by professionals and student leaders about environmental issues, action, and green careers.
12:10–12:25pm | Transition and Snack
12:25–1:05pm | Rotating Workshop Session 2. Choose from engaging workshops led by professionals and student leaders about environmental issues, action, and green careers.
1:10–1:30pm | Closing Celebration!
Highlights of the day will also include a raffle, prizes, art activities, and more!
- Veronica Lucchese from Environmental Justice Journalism Institute
- Author Kate Livie
- Maegan White and Autumn Conley from ShoreRivers
- Chesapeake Culinary Center
- Ann Strozyk and Students from the Youth Climate Institute
- 2024 Summit Student Leaders
- Sassafras Riverkeeper Zack Kelleher and Chester Riverkeeper Annie Richards
- Bruna Sobrinho and Shayna Keller of the University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science Horn Point Laboratory Chapter of Society for Women in Marine Science
Featured Speakers on the Career Panel
- Ariana Muñoz, ShoreRivers
- April Amacker, Maryland Association for Environmental and Outdoor Education
- Johana Guardado, Defensores de la Cuenca
- Candy Schibli, Southeastern Roastery Coffee
- Autumn Berry, Maryland Park Service
- Tori Barmoy, Maryland State Parks Ranger
- Carol Anne Nichols, USDA APHIS Wildlife Services

“This was the best hands down, by far. I’m currently trying to figure out how to pick a career I would like and how to make all these decisions and trying to think about my future. Being able to hear from people with a ton of different experiences and different careers but all giving great advice. It was a relief just to listen to the journey and everything they had to say was great and I could’ve sat there for a much longer time gaining very useful information from very well spoken individuals.”

— 2024 Summit Partipant