November 8, 2024

For Immediate Release – November 8, 2024

Media Contacts:
Ro Rode, Director of Marketing and Communications
(561) 596-1410
ro.rode@lifeandscience.org

Simone Guthrie, Vice President of Marketing and Communications
(561) 574-1224
simone.guthrie@lifeandscience.org

Photo from previous Youth Climate Summit events

Durham, NC — More than 100 North Carolina teenagers will gather at the Museum of Life and Science for the fourth North Carolina Youth Climate Summit (YCS) on November 10–11. The event will feature special addresses from Durham Mayor Leonardo Williams, North Carolina Assistant Secretary of Clean Energy Economic Development Jennifer Mundt, and the Museum’s President and CEO Carrie Heinonen.

“Our world is being reshaped by the effects of climate change,” said Carly Apple, Vice President for Education & Engagement. “Global reports highlight the urgent need for climate action, and this generation is rising to the challenge with incredible passion and purpose. It’s natural to feel overwhelmed, but taking action fuels hope. I’m inspired by the brilliant young minds leading the way at the Youth Climate Summit—they are driving change, and the future feels brighter because of them.”

Participating teens will join teams that include high school environmental clubs, youth leadership clubs, scout groups, and other action- and service-oriented clubs. The summit will feature opportunities for pre-registered students to learn, network, and create their own plans for climate action.

This youth-led event is planned and hosted by a dedicated Teen Advisory Board, which meets at the Museum throughout the school year to shape every aspect of the summit. This year’s summit is a two-day event. Sunday, November 10, is a kickoff event that combines hands-on service opportunities so that the teens can hit the ground running with climate action and a chance to explore the Museum’s 86-acre campus, including our exhibit on Climate and Sustainability.

On Monday, November 11, teens will join a conference-style event with workshops offering tools for climate action, inspiring speakers, and an Eco-Fair connecting them to local projects. The day will culminate in teams creating climate action plans to implement at their schools or communities, inspired by past projects like switching to compostable lunch trays, promoting recycling, and hosting clothing swaps.

The Museum of Life and Science values Durham’s youth leadership in building climate resilience and sees schools, communities, and organizations as critical partners in a sustainable future.

Youth Climate Summit Event Details:
Sunday, November 10: 10 am – 1 pm
Monday, November 11: 8:30 am – 4:30 pm
433 West Murray Avenue, Durham, NC 27704

More info, including the Summit schedule, is available at http://lifeandscience.org/summit 

About the Museum of Life and Science
Located less than five miles from downtown Durham, the Museum of Life and Science is one of North Carolina’s top family destinations. Our 84-acre campus includes a two-story science center, one of the largest butterfly conservatories on the East Coast, and beautifully landscaped outdoor exhibits. Our interactive experiences include Dinosaur Trail, Ellerbe Creek Railway, Hideaway Woods, Into the Mist, Earth Moves, and Aerospace, which features one of the largest collections of Apollo-era NASA artifacts in the state. The Museum is also an AZA-accredited zoo, home to rescued black bears, lemurs, endangered red wolves, and more than 60 species of live animals. For more than 75 years, the Museum has upheld its ongoing commitment to the communities of Durham, the Triangle, and North Carolina through programming, engagement, and research. To learn more, visit lifeandscience.org.

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