*Previously the Youth Exploring Sea Level Rise Science (YESS) Program, now with more curriculum topics and climate action pathways to explore. 
The County of San Mateo’s YECS program provides high school students with the opportunity to learn about the local impacts of climate change through a mixture of classroom presentations, interactive activities, and field trips. This program is available at no cost to all San Mateo County high school classrooms.
The YECS program is hosted in partnership with the County of San Mateo’s Office of Sustainability and County Parks to offer remote learning and in person opportunities for students to gain a stronger understanding of climate change, sea level rise and wildfire management to learn together how to make San Mateo County a more resilient community together.
Three curriculum units are available for booking this academic year. Teachers are encouraged to select on curriculum unit per semester.
The YECS program offers the following resources and opportunities to high school teachers and students in San Mateo County:
- Curriculum Guidebook – step by step program implementation guide for each curriculum unit including NGSS standards, teaching tools, educational resources and more.
- Student Workbook – workbooks for each presentation and field trip to ensure student comprehension and engagement.
- Presentations with YECS staff (virtually or in-person)
- Virtual or in person field trips to Coyote Point Recreation Area, Huddart Park or a County Park of your choice, depending on availability and unit topic.
- Visual Story Map Project – students connect climate change to their own lives through a creative self-reflection project.
- Student Solutionary Project – students explore climate solutions and actions through creating their own solutionary project.
- Technical support for teachers and students.
Book now for the 2022-2023 academic year!
To check availability for this program and begin the booking process, please contact YECS program lead Kamille Lang at: klang1@smcgov.org
Join us! Here’s how:
- Contact Kamille Lang (klang1@smcgov.org) to share your interest and to schedule an overview meeting with the YECS Program lead.
- Sign up for YECS Email Announcements. Be the first to find out about YECS updates other opportunities. Sign up here.
- Join our Teacher’s Advisory Committee. Be part of shaping and updating our YECS curriculum. Contact Kamille Lang for more information.
- Our impact since 2015:
- 2500+ students have participated in the YECS program
- 600+ native plants planted during habitat restoration field trips at the East Palo Alto Baylands
- 19 San Mateo County high schools engaged in service-based learning
- Student have participated in the Living Shoreline Art Project
- Community partnerships with San Mateo County Parks and other non-profits including Grassroots Ecology, the Marine Science Institute, and Acterra.
Questions?
Contact Kamille Lang at klang1@smcgov.org
