Are you ready to start something that matters—in your neighborhood, your city, or your corner of the world?
Green Crew Sprouting is our initiative to help young people launch new Green Crews—youth-led conservation teams tackling real environmental challenges. Every Green Crew is different, because every community is different. But all are united by a shared vision: youth leadership, environmental justice, and hands-on ecological impact.
We provide training, resources, coaching, and a vibrant national network to help your crew succeed. Whether you’re ready to start tomorrow or just want to learn more, we’re here to help you sprout.
Right now, we’re sprouting new Green Crews in three unique regions of Minnesota:
Honoring the life of a young environmentalist, the Jack Loso Chapter is creating space for healing and habitat restoration at the Williams Nature Center. This youth-led crew is planning a pollinator garden, conservation workdays, and more—anchored by a deep sense of purpose and local pride.
Based at the Sally Manzara Interpretive Nature Center, the East Metro Green Crew brings together youth from Lake Elmo, Woodbury, and Saint Paul to tackle suburban environmental challenges. With support from the Jaques Chapter of IWLA and Friends of the Minnesota Valley, this crew is focused on water quality, invasive species, and community engagement.
Our first TEK-led Green Crew is launching in Bemidji, where Indigenous and non-Indigenous youth are building a program grounded in respect, reciprocity, and relationship with the land. This is a model for conservation that honors cultural knowledge and creates space for climate justice leadership.
Our vision doesn’t stop at the state line.
We believe every young person deserves the chance to lead in conservation—whether they live in a small town, a big city, or anywhere in between. Green Crews can grow anywhere. In fact, our model is already inspiring new youth-led conservation groups in Ohio, Virginia, and beyond.
And in July 2026, we’re bringing it all together. We’ll be hosting our first-ever National Green Crew Youth Leadership Conference in Minnesota, welcoming youth leaders from across the country (and beyond!) to gather, learn, share projects, and grow the movement together.
If you’re ready to start a Green Crew in your city, your school, your country—we want to hear from you.
We offer monthly leadership calls for Green Crew members and mentors to stay connected, share progress, and get inspired. You’ll also get access to:
Launch toolkits
Program sponsor support
Project templates
Adult mentor training
National networking and shared resources
You don’t have to do this alone. We’ll grow it together.
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