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Why Participate?

The Youth Climate Solutions Challenge offers students the opportunity to have a real-world impact in their communities by leading clean energy outreach campaigns that measurably reduce carbon emissions. Participants will develop valuable skills in communication, project design and management, and climate science, while engaging with local municipal governments and community leaders on advancing climate goals.

Students will gain insights into new career pathways in the climate and clean energy sectors through hands-on projects and collaboration with professionals. Top-performing teams will be recognized and rewarded at a high-profile awards ceremony.

Program Goals

  • Develop future-ready STEM and workforce skills alongside climate leadership.
  • Build youth confidence, agency, and optimism to address climate change.
  • Empower students to design and implement impactful climate solutions.
  • Engage communities in measurable climate action and clean energy adoption.
  • Foster partnerships among students, schools, municipalities, and community organizations.
  • Inspire lifelong civic engagement and environmental stewardship.

Key Outcomes & Benefits

  • Students gain leadership experience and transferable skills in clean energy technologies, project design, community outreach, and cross-functional collaboration.
  • Students develop a working knowledge of clean energy technologies and their role in addressing the climate crisis.
  • Students engage with professionals and explore potential career pathways in the growing climate and clean energy sectors.
  • Students receive direct mentorship from clean energy executives, policymakers, and community leaders.
  • Students build STEM skills across scientific inquiry, data collection & analysis, systems thinking, budget planning, communication & storytelling, community-based research, and measuring environmental impact.
  • Students collaborate with local sustainability groups, increasing community awareness and adoption of clean energy options.
  • The student-led campaigns generate tangible interest in clean energy installations, further driving adoption.

Why Schools Should Join

  • Supports Student Success — develops communication, collaboration, and leadership; builds college and career readiness; creates portfolio-quality work.
  • Supports Science & STEM Learning — reinforces scientific inquiry, creative design, and data analysis; provides authentic project-based learning; connects classroom science with real community challenges.
  • Positive School Recognition — student awards, community partnerships, and regional recognition.
  • Easy to Implement — turn-key curriculum with webinars and mentoring; only about one hour per week for advisors.

Roles & Responsibilities

High School Administration

Schools are asked to support by:

  • Identifying a faculty advisor
  • Approving participation of students and faculty
  • Promoting the Challenge internally at the school
  • Hosting one in-person information session for participating students and advisor, run by MassEnergize

Team Advisors

Advisors (teachers/staff) will:

  • Support their student team about 1 hour per week (Jan–May 2027)
  • Serve as the main contact for MassEnergize
  • Attend at least 1 informational session + the Webinar for Advisors and the final ceremony

Student Teams

Teams will:

  • Attend 2 required webinars (1 hour each)
  • Lead campaign activities (Jan–May, 2027); approx 2-3 hours per week
  • Collaborate with local sustainability organizations
  • Produce and submit a short project video by March 2027
  • Present a poster and submit a final digital portfolio by April 2027
  • Attend the final ceremony in May 2027

MassEnergize

As the program convener, MassEnergize will coordinate and oversee the Challenge. We will be responsible for the following:

  • Lead program design, implementation, and prize coordination
  • Recruit participating schools and advisors; deliver onboarding content
  • Host webinars, offer coaching, maintain regular meetings, and provide ongoing team support
  • Furnish support resources on clean energy and outreach strategies
  • Facilitate partnerships with local sustainability groups
  • Review team submissions and organize the awards ceremony
  • Provide post-program support and develop case studies

Evaluation & Recognition

Campaigns will be evaluated on:

  • Creativity (25%) — innovative, memorable methods that make people stop and pay attention
  • Measurable Impact (25%) — real, trackable outcomes, such as signups, emissions cut, or minds changed
  • Community Reach (25%) — how broad and diverse an audience the campaign engaged
  • Quality & Execution (25%) — how well the campaign was planned and carried out

Details of the evaluation criteria will be clearly shared during kickoff webinars.

Teams will submit a digital portfolio (videos, social media, outreach materials, survey data, etc.) at the conclusion of the campaign for evaluation by a panel of professionals.

Awards will be announced and the top three teams recognized from each of the 3 regions at the May 2027 Climate Solutions Challenge Award Nights.

Ready to Join?

Design and implement innovative climate solutions in order to make a measurable impact on greenhouse gas reductions in your community.

REGISTER interest here to receive more information and next steps.

APPLY below by October 16, 2026.
Selected School Teams will be announced Monday, October 26, 2026

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