Earth Island Institute established the Brower Youth Awards for Environmental Leadership in 2000 to honor renowned environmental advocate David Brower, who said, “I love to see what young people can do, before someone old tells them it’s impossible.” It is with this spirit that we recognize the outstanding leadership efforts of young people who are working for the protection of our shared planet.

Youth environmental change leaders ages 13 to 22 (as of May 1, 2023) living in North America (including Mexico, Canada, and some Caribbean Islands) and U.S. territories are encouraged to apply.

Each of the six recipients of the Brower Youth Awards will receive a $3,000 cash prize, a short film produced about their work, and flight and lodging accommodations for a weeklong trip to the San Francisco Bay Area.

The recipients will participate in leadership activities and workshops on coaching, visioning, public speaking and developing media relations. The week of activities culminates in the awards ceremony. The Brower Youth Awards program invests in the winners’ continued success by providing ongoing access to resources, mentors, and opportunities to develop leadership skills. 

Applicants are assessed on the following criteria:

• You played the major leadership role in creating, organizing and implementing your project or campaign(s).
• Your project is applying fresh solutions and approaches to relevant environmental challenges.
• Is the project’s impact significant? Can your work be used as a model for other communities or campuses?
• What draws you to this work? What would winning a Brower Youth Award mean to you?

For more information, visit https://www.broweryouthawards.org/apply/.