How to Start a Tennessee Youth

Environmental Stewards (TN-YES) Club

Why say YES to TN-YES?

Well, the #1 reason is because it is FREE for Tennessee Environmental Education Association (TEEA) members! Through TN-YES, you can network with other teachers excited about environmental education, you can apply for mini-grants ($) to help with projects, you will become more involved with school and community environmental awareness, you will receive emails with environmental activities, and you can apply for the TN-YES Club of the Year award (more $).

How to Start a TN-YES Club at your school:

If you are thinking about establishing a Tennessee Youth Environmental Stewards club at your school, it is easy to affiliate an existing science, environmental, recycling, and/or student government club at your school with TEEA and tap into the TN-YES network. All you need to do is send TEEA’s TN-YES Coordinator the following information: sponsor’s name, approximate number of student members, school name, school address, and sponsor’s e-mail address. You may be starting at ground zero with your desire for a TN-YES club; if so, use the following tips to start a TN-YES club.

Talk to your Principal Find out your school's requirements for setting up a new club. Explain to your principal that this club will be involved in environmental education activities, like litter pick-ups and planting trees.

Get a Sponsor One sponsor must be a current Tennessee Environmental Education Association (TEEA) member. To ease the responsibility of overseeing a club, it is highly recommended to recruit additional sponsors.

Recruit Students Get permission to post notices announcing your new club around campus, and include a contact person for interested students.

First Meeting Schedule an initial meeting to discuss what activities your club will pursue. These activities should have an environmental theme.

Share Responsibilities Set up a structure for your TN-YES club. Elect officers and decide who will be responsible for what. Encourage students to follow agendas for meetings to reach established club goals.

Consider Finances Make plans to raise any necessary funds. Besides applying for TEEA mini-grants, money can be made from recycling aluminum cans, office paper, newspaper, cardboard, and cell phones.

Sign up now! Contact: Holly Slater, TN-YES Coordinator

www.eeintennessee.org