Librarian in Training
LeighAnn Ferrara
I'm a gardening, composting (and worm composting), low-waste, environmental education enthusiast, and also working towards my Masters in Information Science School Library.
I previously worked as an environmental educator bringing recycling and composting to school cafeterias and teaching students about all manner of topics related to the environment and sustainability. Working with children and in schools is partly what led me to my current path, where I'm excited to share helpful information for teens & young adults who are interested in sustainability and want to improve our Earth through individual actions, and current scholarship regarding how to educate and motivate them.
Contact me at: llferrara@albany.edu
Welcome to the guide that will help young adults & adolescents become inspired, educated stewards of our Earth.
Image generated by AI (Canva's DreamLAb using prompt "recycling youth")
As adolescents move into high school and college, they become aware of the perhaps overwhelming threats of global warming, climate change, and other environmental issues. They may wonder how one person’s actions can possibly make a difference, and if they should leave this task to the (older) adults in charge. However, young adult individuals can be a critical part of the solution if they are provided with guidance on the issues as well as tools to help them get started in their own sustainability journey.
In this guide, high school and college students, and the families and educators who teach them, will find suggestions for books, websites, articles, and more that will provide analysis on the current state of sustainability, ideas for individual and collective actions including composting, recycling, and gardening initiatives, and stories of teens who have taken action. These resources can provide inspiration, perspective and guidance to help teens move forward with less fear and helplessness, and more knowledge and motivation.