Youth Climate Solutions Challenge 2026-2027

Program Overview

What is the Youth Climate Solutions Challenge?

The Youth Climate Solutions Challenge is an after-school community-based STEM program designed and directed by MassEnergize for high school students across Massachusetts. This climate leadership, team-based competition challenges students to design and implement clean energy and climate solutions, stepping outside the classroom to lead real-world outreach campaigns. 

For the 2026-27 Challenge, MassEnergize is pleased to be partnering with Green Community Catalysts and Cooler Communities to extend the Youth Climate Solutions Challenge to high schools and communities throughout Eastern and Western Massachusetts.  Through these partnerships, an ever greater number of students will be able to participate in this high impact program.

How It Works

A nine-month journey during the school year takes students from early ideas in September to final Awards Night in May:

Steps along with way:

  • Research — Collect baseline data and pinpoint real community-level problems
  • Design — Craft a bold yet practical climate and clean-energy solution
  • Engage — Talk to neighbors, municipal officials, and local partners
  • Launch — Take the campaign live in local communities
  • Tell the Story — Produce a short video capturing the project
  • Showcase — Present a poster at the Community Climate Leaders Conference
  • Submit — Document all project work in a final digital portfolio
  • Celebrate — Come together to learn from peers and receive prize awards

Program Structure

  • Students form teams of 2-6 members per team
  • Teams are divided by region; up to 15 teams per region 
  • Each team is supported by a teacher or community advisor
  • MassEnergize provides mentorship and support throughout the year
  • Teams collaborate with local sustainability committees, climate organizations, and municipal staff
  • Teams must demonstrate creativity, innovation, community engagement, and impact to receive points
  • Teams produce a short project video (under 4 min) to aid their campaign
  • Students present a poster session at the annual Community Climate Leaders Conference
  • Awards are given top performing teams at the final Awards Night

Timeline: 2026 - 2027

Month Key Activities
Sept 2026 Challenge launch & school outreach
Sept - Oct 2026 Informational webinars for interested students and schools; application deadline - Oct 16
Nov 2026 “Everything You Need to Know” Webinar Series; begin research & campaign planning 
Dec 2026  Finalize campaign design
Jan 2027 Campaign launch & implementation begins
Feb 2027 Campaign implementation continues; video production begins
Mar 2027 Video submission; Poster presentation preparation begins
April 2027 Campaign concludes; Poster presentation & portfolio due
May 2027 Awards Night

Prizes & Seed Grants

  • Seed Grant: every participating team receives a $500 seed grant to support campaign expenses.
  • Top 3 teams per region receive cash prizes for their schools:
    • 1st place: $1,000
    • 2nd place: $750
    • 3rd place: $500

Support for Schools & Advisors

MassEnergize provides active support throughout the Challenge!

  • Informational webinars
  • Regular check-ins for questions and support
  • Digital resources on campaign planning, clean energy, and communications
  • Video production and support
  • Contact with local sustainability groups

Ready to Participate?

Do you have a creative idea that could help reduce greenhouse gas emissions in your community? It's time to put that idea into action. Design and implement an innovative climate solution that makes a measurable, lasting impact.

REGISTER your interest here & get updates! 

Ready to APPLY?

Fill out the Youth Climate Solutions Challenge Application Form by October 16, 2026. 

Selected School Teams will be announced Monday, October 26, 2026

Questions?

Contact our Program Coordinator, Fabiane Goncalves: youthchallenge@massenergize.org

About the Challenge

The Youth Climate Solutions Challenge (YCSC) is a MassEnergize initiative developed in partnership with the MetroWest STEM Education Network (MSEN). The Challenge invites high school students across Massachusetts to identify a real local clean energy issue in their community, design an outreach campaign to address it, and take that campaign into the real world – engaging neighbors, local officials, and community organizations.

The 2025–26 Challenge saw 10 student teams and 55+ participants from schools across Massachusetts competing for $6,000 in prize money. On the evening of May 8, 2026, students gathered for the Awards Night at Framingham State University to present their projects and celebrate their achievements.

How It Worked

Each team followed three steps:

  • Think Local — Identify a real clean energy challenge worth solving in their community.
  • Build Solutions — Collaborate on research, strategy, and design to build a meaningful outreach campaign.
  • Pitch & Lead — Take the campaign into the real world, engaging neighbors, officials, and local organizations.

Meet the Class of 2025–26 

This year, 10 outstanding teams rose to the challenge with projects spanning solar, heat pumps, public transit, energy efficiency, and more.


Concord-Carlisle High School — Induction Cookstoves

Project: Induction Cooktops Educational Promotion
This team ran an educational campaign promoting the benefits of induction cooking as a cleaner, safer alternative to gas — raising awareness in their community about energy-efficient cooking technology.

Students: Allison Sheppard, Iliana Benson, Theresa Green, Zoe Gryniewicz, Audrey Benson, Evan Hultgren

Faculty Advisor: Rebecca Meeks

Framingham High School — Bridges & Blooms

Project: The Art of Sustainability
Led by the Framingham Environmental Awareness Club, this team created a sustainability-focused art and education campaign highlighting the connection between nature, community, and sustainable local action — including infographics, a sustainable farm model, plant planting activities, and interactive games.

Students: Framingham Environmental Awareness Club

Faculty Advisors: Katherine Maher & Rebecca Maynard


Holliston High School — Unplug It!

Project: Educating the community to create behavioral change to reduce energy use and emissions

This team focused on practical energy reduction, encouraging households and local businesses to cut phantom energy use through community education and behavior-change outreach.

Students: Andrew Ferguson, Chase Ricupero, Colin Ehret, Avin Hemarante, Jack Firmani, Parv Patel, Benjamin Rebello

Faculty Advisor: Doug Calais

Lexington High School — Promoting LexPress

Project: Promoting public transportation and working with local leaders to add more LexPress bus stops

This team championed public transit in Lexington, campaigning to raise awareness of the LexPress bus service and advocating with local officials for expanded routes and stops — a smart, systems-level approach to reducing car dependency.

Students: Noe Voskuil, Rahini Konakanchi, Naavya Shah, Rucha Daphal, Elnaz Khosraviani

Faculty Advisors: Esther Sohn Jun / Maggie Peard


Milford High School — Clean Electricity

Project: Clean Electric Energy Outreach

This team tackled the challenge of educating Milford residents about the town's community electricity program, promoting renewable energy options and helping households understand how to lower their carbon footprint through clean electricity choices.

Students: Katelyn Kearnan, Angelina Bonina, Madeline Hamilton, Samantha DeNegris

Faculty Advisor: Tim Walsh

Nauset Regional High School — Clean Energy For You

Project: Informational Campaign About Heat Pumps

Based on Cape Cod, this team ran an informational campaign to educate their community about heat pumps as a cleaner, more efficient alternative to traditional heating systems — holding community presentations and outreach events.

Students: Genevieve Smith, Saige Hathaway, Hannah Pranga, Sophia Quinton, Malia Washington, Chiara Castro

Faculty Advisor: Luke Simpson


Newton North High School — Newton Youth Energizers

Project: Motivate 100+ Newton households to sign up for Mass Save Home Energy Assessment

With an ambitious and measurable target, this team set out to get over 100 Newton households to sign up for the Mass Save Home Energy Assessment — connecting neighbours with free energy audits and efficiency upgrades through door-to-door outreach and community engagement.

Students: Madeline Rhine, Leyla Gustin, Alicia Qiu, Nevie Lee, Kendall Swint, Cindy Qiao, Ella Hamel, Theo Evangelinos

Faculty Advisor: Marcia Cooper

 
Northampton High School — A Carbon Neutral City

Project: Interactive digital map of Northampton's carbon sequestration showing long-term impact of greener actions

This team built an interactive digital platform mapping Northampton's carbon sequestration data, making it easier for residents, organizations, and city officials to understand their community's carbon footprint and take informed steps toward net-zero. They engaged directly with the municipal government, Sustainability Committee, and Planning and Development Committee.

Students: Mazen Abdul-Knerr, Daniil Kunhurtsev, Taj Abdul-Knerr, Griffin Edmands, Orion Phelps, Elian Ortizviera

Faculty Advisor: Josh Finkel


Stoughton High School — Greenify Stoughton

Project: Reduce inequities in energy-efficient practices while helping homes become greener and more resilient

This team tackled the critical issue of energy equity, working to ensure that energy-efficient practices and resources are accessible to all Stoughton residents — not just those with more financial means. A thoughtful and important contribution to the challenge of a just clean energy transition.

Students: Gahelle Galette, Jennifer Verdieu

Faculty Advisor: Peter Law

 
 
The Bromfield High School — Harnessing the Sun

Project: Educating people on solar energy, both solar panels and solar farms

This team designed and delivered a student solar seminar, educating their Harvard community about the benefits of solar panels and solar farms and helping residents connect with solar vendors and programs. Their clear, practical approach made renewable energy feel accessible and achievable.

Students: Veronica Welsh, Flora Poutasse, Kimberly Chen

Faculty Advisors: Ellen Leicher & Joshua Clarke

🏆 Award Winners

After a rigorous review of each team's campaign portfolio by our panel of expert reviewers, we are thrilled to announce the 2025–26 prize winners:

 

🥇 1st Place — $3,000

The Bromfield High School

Project: Harnessing the Sun — Veronica Welsh, Flora Poutasse & Kimberly Chen

🥈 2nd Place — $2,000

Newton North High School

Project: Newton Youth Energizers — Madeline Rhine, Leyla Gustin, Alicia Qiu, Nevie Lee, Kendall Swint, Cindy Qiao, Ella Hamel & Theo Evangelinos

🥉 3rd Place — $1,000

Stoughton High School

Project: Greenify Stoughton — Gahelle Galette & Jennifer Verdieu

In Their Words

 

Before this challenge, I knew climate change was a problem but had no idea what I could actually do about it. Now I've tabled at two community events and convinced my family to look into heat pumps. I feel like I can actually make a difference in my neighborhood.

The hands-on outreach was what made it real for me. Talking to actual residents about clean energy – not just reading about it – gave me confidence I didn't know I had. I went from being nervous about public speaking to leading our school's climate event.

I came in thinking I'd learn some facts about solar panels. I left with a whole network of peers who care about the same things I do, a plan to start a climate action group at my school, and the skills to actually lead it. This program changed my direction.

With Thanks

The Youth Climate Solutions Challenge would not be possible without the generous support of many people and organisations. We extend our heartfelt thanks to:

  • The Metrowest STEM Education Network (MSEN) — for their commitment to empowering students through meaningful STEM and climate engagement opportunities
  • Senator Mike Barrett — for his generous support and belief in this program
  • Our expert reviewers — for their time and expertise in evaluating each team's portfolio
  • All faculty advisors — for guiding and supporting students every step of the way
  • Every student participant — for your creativity, dedication, and commitment to real climate action
  • All supporters — to everyone who directly or indirectly supported this initiative, thank you for believing in the next generation of climate leaders

What's Next?

The 2026–27 Youth Climate Solutions Challenge is coming! Applications will open in September 2026.

If you are a student, teacher, or school interested in taking part, we would love to hear from you. Contact us at youthchallenge@massenergize.org to find out more!

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