WHO WE ARE

Mid-Ohio Valley Climate Action (MOVCA) is the sponsoring organization of this program. You can learn more about MOVCA here.

Mid-Ohio Valley Climate Action is a volunteer driven non-profit that works to educate and motivate people of all ages in our region to act to address the climate crisis our planet is facing. The Youth Climate Ambassadors Program offers youth groups and organizations opportunities to apply for funding support in completing community projects. This program was first established as an individual, student-led program in academic year 2022-2023 with our youth and future generations in mind.

WHAT WE DO

The purpose of this program is to provide students with an opportunity to learn more about environmental concerns and how they can help influence and improve their own communities by developing a project or goal within their schools and/or community. Participants of the Youth Climate Ambassador Program can learn more about the environment by exploring areas of interest beyond, and in addition to, what is offered in the curriculum within their own schools.

Leaders and mentors of youth groups and organizations in the Mid-Ohio Valley region may apply for the program. Each group will develop their own project plans and goals, receive funding for their project, and attend an end-of-the-year luncheon hosted by MOVCA to recognize their community projects and group.

MOVCA Youth Climate Program Application Guidelines

MOVCA intends to fund up to 15 organizations or established youth groups with mini grants to conduct environmental projects that will address some aspects of the climate crisis. This includes addressing environmental issues and needs in the MOV that affect our air, water, and soil.

Organizations may pick from a list of existing projects or come up with one of their own.

Existing Projects:

1. Air monitoring with PurpleAir: recruit homes to install monitors, study air quality trends, inform the community, and more. TO WORK WITH THIS EXISTING PROJECT CONTACT: ERIC ENGLE - 304-488-4384

2. Environmental restoration: restoration ecology - restoring/healing native ecosystems, eradicating invasive species, addressing endangered species, sanctuaries. Work typically done at Broughton's Nature Park and Recreation Area, the Ohio River Islands and at Mountwood Park. TO WORK WITH THIS EXISTING PROJECT CONTACT: MARK - PENDING

3. Ohio River Islands National Wildlife Refuge: tree planting, forest restoration, mussel propagation, and more! TO WORK WITH THIS EXISTING PROJECT CONTACT: VIC ELAM - 620-203-8514

**Badge work: For youth groups that award badges, such as the Girl Scouts, this project would either establish new badges for environmental volunteering or make the earning of existing relevant badges a priority for 2026 club activity.

The number of grants given will be limited by funding availability.

DEADLINE: September 15, 2025. Grant winners will be announced December 15.

Funds will be available by January 1, 2026, and may be spent throughout 2026.