Maine Environmental Changemakers Network

The Changemakers Gathering (Sept 29-30th) is a 2-day youth-facilitated event at Tanglewood 4-H Camp in Lincolnville, ME full of skill-building workshops, reflection time, fun activities, and a chance to gain inspiration from other people making a difference for our Maine environment. Food and lodging are provided. Click the link above to apply by September 8th!

Fellowships and Organizers

Impact Storytelling

About the Program

The Maine Environmental Changemakers is a youth-led intergenerational network that connects young Mainers (ages 15-30) from diverse backgrounds who are passionate about the environment with peer mentors, and established professional mentors, in the sector. Changemakers provides the training and resources needed to support the environmental actions that participants organize in their communities. The Changemakers program commits to challenging traditional models of leadership, shifting power, increasing innovation through dialogue, and crossing age and ability boundaries to develop a more just, inclusive, and equitable environmental sector.

2019 Changemaker Participant

Thank you, Changemakers, for providing such a safe, playful, and powerful space for change to take place in.

2022 Participant

I really enjoyed the experience of hearing from so many impactful leaders in the community

In Changemakers Network We:

Commit to a growth mindset

Utilize collaborative power to challenge norms and ask hard questions
Dream big
Learn intergenerational through an exchange of resources, support, and knowledge
Follow youth leaders
Build meaningful long-term relationships with one another and our communities

Advocate for a more inclusive and equitable environmental sector

Tell our stories to the sector
Find solidarity and hope in our community
Center the voices of marginalized youth
Grow our skills, knowledge, and power to be more effective collaborators and civically engaged
Care for ourselves and our communities

Flagship Program

Changemakers Gathering

Our 2022 Changemakers Gathering took place at Tanglewood 4-H camp in Lincolnville, ME on September 16-17th.

The Changemakers Gathering is a youth planned and facilitated, intergenerational event to build a sense of community amongst people who are passionate about the environment, educate others about the environment, and are committed to building more just and sustainable Maine schools and communities.

If you are accepted to the Gathering you will be part of the Changemakers Network, and will be invited to different events throughout the year. Participation in follow-up events is not required, but offer a great way to deepen your relationships with other Changemakers across the state and build your skills.

I have infinitely more hope than I had before. Seeing all the young people passionate about the environment and social justice gives me hope that our country is heading in the right direction. I live in an area that does not welcome this type of change, so seeing this was truly amazing.”

— 2021 Changemaker Gathering Participant

Changemaker History

Changemakers is powerful today because of the insight, innovation, and courage embodied in its youth-led design.

Youth leadership allows Changemakers to be 100% committed to building an empowering community for all. Born from a single event in 2016, the project has grown to a vibrant network where we provide training, networking events, share resources, a paid fellowship program, mentor connections, civic engagement training and resource support for participant's environmental community action projects.

We believe that anyone can be an environmental Changemaker and everyone has a role to play in this work of building more resilient and equitable Maine communities. We invite people to join the work and to bring their interests, knowledge, and skills to share. We encourage all participants to listen with an open heart and mind and to be willing to enter into conversations that may challenge their traditional practice. We challenge Changemakers to move out of their comfort zones and into their learning and growth zones.

Now, more than ever, we need to connect with one another across generations and difference to build our resources, our skills, our deep relationships and our sense of community to support and facilitate youth-led environmental action in Maine. Changemakers was founded in 2016 and is hosted by the Maine Environmental Education Association. Changemakers is developed in collaboration with youth changemakers from across Maine, Maine Audubon, Cultivating Community, Natural Difference LLC. and UMaine 4-H Camp and Learning Center at Tanglewood.