At Green Crew, leadership isn’t a simulation—it’s real. We lead real conservation projects, organize community and service events, speak at conferences, restore ecosystems, and serve on actual boards. Everything we do is built on the idea that youth aren’t just the future—we’re the present. And our Leadership Development program gives us the tools, training, and trust to lead with purpose.
This program isn’t something adults created for us—we co-designed it with college curriculum experts. The result? Courses and experiences that challenge us, support us, and respect us. Each course runs for four months and combines online learning, in-person action, and tons of collaboration. Here’s what leadership looks like through our eyes:
This was the first course many of us took, and it completely reshaped how we see ourselves. We started with our own values and stories. We explored what kind of leaders we already are—and who we want to become. We learned about systems, storytelling, and how to work in a way that reflects our ethics.
One of the most eye-opening moments came during our “Web of Life” activity. We each took on a Green Crew role and connected to each other with yarn, like nodes in an ecosystem. When one person let go, the whole system shifted. That moment helped us realize something deep: every role matters. Being the person who organizes snacks is just as important as being the President. No one leads alone.
This course taught us to speak with courage, show up for our teams, and lead from wherever we are. We didn’t just talk about leadership—we practiced it.
At first, this course sounded technical. Budgets? Timelines? Work plans? But what we learned went way deeper. This course gave us the skills to take a dream and turn it into something real. We learned how to identify a need, plan a project, gather a team, and adapt when things change (because they will).
Our big project was a pond restoration—and it threw us into the deep end. We had to bring together scientific data, Traditional Ecological Knowledge, and on-the-ground realities. We wrestled with erosion, invasive species, and the limits of time, energy, and space.
It was frustrating. It was empowering. And it was real. We didn’t “pretend” to do restoration—we planned the actual work. By the end, we weren’t just better project managers; we were better collaborators, problem-solvers, and stewards.
We’re lucky. Our chapter has amazing adult mentors—both longtime volunteers and working professionals—who show up for us. Some of them have decades of experience leading conservation work. Others are engineers, arborists, hydrologists, naturalists, and environmental scientists.
There are two kinds of mentorship in Green Crew: one kind supports us as enviromental leaders—helping us figure out how to run meetings, plan events, and communicate clearly; the other kind connects us with professionals who help us grow our technical skills and deepen our conservation projects.
One of our favorite examples? Tom Ries, a seasoned project manager and machining expert, helped us redesign our Zebra Mussel traps. He didn’t take over. He asked questions, gave feedback, and helped us build something better—without blowing our budget. That’s mentorship done right.
Our internships are official roles with the Minnesota Valley Chapter of the Izaak Walton League. These aren’t side projects. We work on environmental research, science communication, engineering design, social media strategy, and more.
Interships are designed for a 6-month period and 200 hours. Interns are connected with a professional in their field of work. This could be an enviromental field, or a functional skill like marketing which we need to do the Green Crew work.
One of our interns conducted research on climate restoration—and now we’re presenting that work at the 2025 IWLA National Convention. We’re not just learning about environmental policy—we’re writing it.
Internships at Green Crew give us a chance to apply our passions, build real skills, and contribute to projects that matter. (They look amazing onn college applications as well) They’ve helped some of us find our future careers—and helped others realize that we can do more than we ever thought possible.
Green Crew is youth-led, and that means real leadership. Each Crew elects its own Executive Team and Leadership Team. Executive Team members commit around 10 hours a week. Others commit about 3 hours per week. Together, we make the Crew go.
Our leaders manage conservation projects, run meetings, plan logistics, mentor peers, and represent the Crew in public. And when things get tough, we support each other.
Once, when one of our Project Leaders experienced a loss at home, the Executive Team stepped up. We reorganized tasks, covered responsibilities, and made sure our Trail Restoration event still happened. That’s the kind of leadership we practice—adaptable, compassionate, and collaborative.
Some of us serve on the board of directors of the Minnesota Valley Chapter. Others serve at the state level—and one of us (Go Camille!) is even on the national board of the Izaak Walton League. We’re not “youth representatives.” We’re full voting members with fiduciary and legal responsibilities.
It’s a big deal. But we’re not doing it alone. Each of us gets one-on-one coaching, mentorship from experienced board members, and specific training—like how to read financials or lead a governance committee.
We’ve helped shape budgets. We’ve co-written grant proposals. We’ve sat in the same rooms as lawyers, funders, and elected officials—and we’ve spoken up. We’ve earned our seats: and we use them.
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