We just wrapped the Spring Climate Justice Intro Training — and what a day it was!
After a last-minute venue change due to remodeling at UW SSW, we landed at the Phinney Neighborhood Center, which turned out to be a warm, welcoming space. It was a great reminder of how flexibility often leads to unexpected gifts.
We welcomed 23 young people, ages 8 to 14, into the bright, cozy space with delicious pastries donated by Macrina Bakery. They met new friends and their hosts for the day and settled into their teams — the kind of connections that form the roots of community.
The day kicked off with a new reflective process designed by Dr. McKenna Parnes from UW’s Department of Pediatrics and Seattle Children’s Research Institute. Youth were invited to explore how they’re feeling about the climate crisis and the world around them. Despite the heaviness many expressed, what stood out most was their resilience — the ways they’re already developing personal tools to process and adapt.
From there, they named their core values — from clean air and water to kindness, equity, and creativity — and discussed how the disregard or neglect of these values often contributes to the difficult emotions they experience. Using their values and emotions as inspiration, they began turning their feelings into artwork on their notebooks, integrating creativity with self-expression.
We then introduced several CAF Actions — from self-care and community protection to creative resistance. The group reflected on how committing to these actions not only affirms our values but also shifts how we feel, think, and show up in the world.
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Climate Action Lab: Turning Ideas into Action
In the afternoon, we launched into our Climate Action Lab, where youth chose one of four issue scenarios to explore:
- Salmon Survival
- Wildfire Smoke & Community Health
- Cooling Our School Playground
- Preparing for a Heatwave
Each team identified who is most affected by these issues, who their allies might be, and then worked together to build a campaign using our Action Cards toolkit. The strategies they came up with were sharp, creative, and powerful — as usual, young people bring clarity and boldness that the climate movement needs.
Play, Expression, and a CAF Mantra Send-Off
Lunch, generously provided by Mod Pizza, gave everyone time to fuel up. We lucked out with the weather and got some joyful outdoor time — running, sliding, and releasing energy.
Afterward, the kids practiced speaking out for their values, they then had choice time: a costume photo booth, sign painting for the April 11 youth climate strike, a quiet discussion circle, and some library time for those who needed a reset. This group was especially playful — and it was beautiful to see relationships deepen throughout the day.
To wrap up, we circled back to what it means to take action with CAF and recited our shared mantra: “Be Like a Tree”
We said goodbye to these budding activists. We can’t wait to see where they grow from here.
