2025-2026 YES Teams

The Climate Smart St. James YES Team focused on community education and sustainability action throughout the season. Students completed the CERTs Community Ambassador Training and developed a plan to share their knowledge and resources with the local community.

The team also launched their first-ever holiday light recycling initiative, collecting 161 pounds of lights and successfully engaging community members in reducing waste and promoting sustainable practices.

In January 2026, Crosslake Community YES Team members attended the YES Weekend Retreat at Wolf Ridge Environmental Learning Center. Students explored environmental topics and green career pathways through outdoor recreation, environmental education workshops, and team- building experiences while connecting with YES students from across Minnesota.

Harbor City International YES students continue to combine education, service, and community leadership to make a meaningful impact. This season, students taught peers and staff about the importance of bats and raised funds for Bat Conservation International to support the preservation of Brandon Hill Cave in Honduras.

The team also organized a holiday food drive, collecting 300 pounds of food for the Duluth community. In addition, students planned and hosted a Sustainability Summit at The Depot in Duluth on April 10, bringing people together to learn, connect, and take action around sustainability efforts; at this event, they were presented with the GreenStep School award – officially making them a GreenStep School in Minnesota.

The MACCRAY YES Team focused on environmental stewardship, hands-on learning, and statewide collaboration throughout the season. In fall 2025, students visited Prairie Woods Environmental Learning Center where they helped plant prairie violets as part of local habitat restoration efforts and learned about the importance of native plants and pollinator ecosystems.

In January 2026, team members attended the YES Weekend Retreat at Wolf Ridge Environmental Learning Center. Students explored environmental topics and green career pathways through outdoor recreation, environmental education workshops, and team-building experiences while connecting with YES students from across Minnesota.

The team also participated in the Prairie Woods Earth Day Celebration on April 18, where students helped community members plant flowers using recycled egg cartons and soil while promoting sustainability and environmental education.

The Mankato West YES Team hit the highway for a successful community cleanup day. Students worked together to remove litter, protect local wildlife, and help keep their community clean. Their teamwork and dedication continue to make a positive difference.

The NLS High School YES Team focused on education, environmental stewardship, and community action throughout the season. Students developed and taught a lesson to third graders on behavioral adaptations in nature, highlighting how living things use natural “engineering” to meet their needs.

The team also partnered with the middle school YES Team to lead a buckthorn removal day in their school’s oak savanna, clearing a 50-by-50-yard area to improve ecosystem health. In addition, students organized a holiday light recycling effort, collecting more than 250 pounds of lights to help reduce waste in the community.

The Royalton YES Team focused on hands-on learning, environmental stewardship, and community engagement this season. Students taught 2nd graders about plants and pollinators while guiding them in creating seed bombs to plant at home. Team members also explored future career opportunities through an interactive activity led by a CERTs educator.

Students strengthened their environmental knowledge and teamwork during a visit to Prairie Woods Environmental Learning Center. They also completed a prairie cleanup project where 26 students removed 20 pounds of trash to improve habitat conditions.

Additionally, the team planted three apple trees in their native prairie to support pollinators and promote healthy, sustainable growth around their school.

The Watertown-Mayer YES Team focused on waste reduction and sustainability within their school community. Students developed a composting initiative by collaborating with local officials and creating educational posters to raise awareness about composting practices.

The team also helped build a bench made from recycled plastic, demonstrating creative reuse of materials. In addition, students organized a marker recycling effort to reduce waste and encourage environmentally responsible habits throughout their school.

The WWG Earth YES Team focused on sustainability, community engagement, and environmental education this season. Students harvested apples from trees planted five years ago and served fresh apple juice to students and staff while teaching others about the process from fruit to juice.

The team also led a school-wide community cleanup to reduce litter and raise awareness about its environmental impact. During Earth Month, students launched themed initiatives such as “Black- Out Day” and “No Cars Day” to encourage waste reduction and sustainable habits.

In addition, the team organized a holiday light recycling drive, collecting 12 pounds of lights, and showed appreciation for community supporters by hosting a thank-you meal and creating gift baskets for families who helped maintain local gardens.