The YMCA Earth Service Corps is a pillar of youth environmental leadership in the greater Seattle area. Due to a national AmeriCorps interruption, it has been abruptly suspended. We call on our community to take action, and we call on youth to rise and fight for what we built.

For over 35 years, the YESC has supported thousands of students across Washington in becoming environmental leaders. It has become more than just a program, it’s a citywide community of climate-conscious youth working for restoration, stewardship, and community.

But now, the YESC is in crisis.

Due to a sudden national-level interruption of the AmeriCorps program, all AmeriCorps members have been placed on administrative leave. As a result, YESC has been paused with no notice to students or staff. That means:

• Clubs across Washington are now without instructors
• Youth climate leadership and restoration projects are paused
• Students have lost an essential support system 

We’re organizing this petition to gather tangible support from Washington youth, educators, and environmental organizations who believe in the value of the YMCA Earth Service Corps. Our goal is to collect as many signatures as possible to show how deeply this program matters to students. With enough support, we hope to present this petition to the SPS School Board, the YMCA of Greater Seattle, and local and state leaders to advocate for the continuation of youth environmental leadership programs. By signing and sharing this petition widely, you’re helping us show that YESC deserves to be supported just as much as it has supported our schools and communities!

This crisis should not be the end of YESC, it should be a turning point for how we support youth in leading the way toward a more sustainable, just future. 🌱