Countywide : Youth Summit Puts Environment First

About 200 Southern California middle and high school students are gathering in Anaheim this weekend for the “Partners for the Planet” regional youth summit.

The event is held by young people to inspire and educate their peers about how they can help the environment.

“We are trying to encourage (the participants to see) that youth can be leaders and can be on the forefront of the environmental movement,” said 16-year-old Tammy Smith, one of the summit organizers. “We do have hope, and we have to take control of our future.”

The summit began Friday and continues through Sunday at the Anaheim Grand Hotel. Activities planned for today include interactive workshops, ecological exhibits, entertainment, speeches, award presentations and a vegetarian dinner banquet.

Workshops and a closing session are scheduled for Sunday morning.

Among the groups presenting the event is the Tree Musketeers, a nonprofit Southern California environmental organization founded in 1987. The group held a “Partners for the Planet” national youth summit last year in Ohio. Another national event is planned for next year in Utah, and an international summit is scheduled for 1996 in China.

“These summits are just as much about youth empowerment and moving kids to action as they are specific to the environment,” said Kathy Darling, manager of development for Tree Musketeers. “We want them to feel like they can make a difference.”

The regional summit in Anaheim is designed for students age 10 to 18. The registration fee is $25, which includes meals. Scholarships are available on a financial need basis.

For information, call the Tree Musketeers, (310) 322-0263.