Number: 2007-03
WHEREAS, the National Wildlife Federation recognizes the need to diversify racially, culturally, and age-wise the conservation movement of the United States for the future protection, restoration and preservation of its natural resources, as National Wildlife Federation recognizes the future of this movement lies within connecting and engaging youth (as defined as middle school through college) as the future leaders of the conservation movement; and
WHEREAS, youth and student involvement within organizations on multiple levels, including community service and leadership, provides growth and development opportunities for organizations through the new and unique perspective of this and future generations; and
WHEREAS, the youth service movement and supporting organizations recognize the role National Wildlife Federation and its state affiliates can provide through collaboration and innovation of conservation perception and engagement to these organizations, and that the current youth involvement at state affiliate and national level is not utilized to its fullest potential; and
WHEREAS, the National Wildlife Federation, in its strategic plan, resolves to engage youth in 10 million hours of service and provide leadership training for over 1,000 youth, and National Wildlife Federation has examples of localized leadership programs which could be utilized as learning models for its state affiliates of youth leadership programs supporting these goals which include Conservation Federation of Missouri – Conservation Leadership Corps and Alaska Youth for Environment Action;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the National Wildlife Federation, at its annual meeting assembled March 30-31, 2007, in Washington, D.C., supports the establishment of a National Youth Conservation Council, comprised of youth (representing middle school through college age students) demonstrating exemplary participation in state Affiliate conservation organizations and partner organizations on youth engagement and leadership; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the National Wildlife Federation encourages all its state Affiliate organizations to adopt youth engagement and leadership strategies and models to outreach and cultivate youth at the local level and provide active participation in the council; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the National Wildlife Federation supports the involvement of youth in the legislative conservation processes at the state and national level.