Youth Climate Summit Challenges Utah Teens to Take Action for a Sustainable Future

Third-annual Summit to Connect Teens with Experts to Inspire Change

Salt Lake City, June 14, 2025 - The Critical Action Lab invites teens ages 12 to 18 to the Natural History Museum of Utah (NHMU) on June 14 from 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. for the third annual Youth Climate Summit. Designed by teens for teens, the summit offers workshops and group activities focused on youth activism, sustainability, and climate optimism.

“The Youth Climate Summit gives teens a powerful platform to learn, lead, and ignite change. The summit offers opportunities for young people to connect with others who care, to gain the knowledge and tools to take action, and to realize that their voices matter.”

— Jason Cryan, Ph.D., the Sarah B. George Executive Director at NHMU

A group of teens sits at a table while one of them holds a globe ball

Critical Action Lab, NHMU

This year's keynote speaker, Georgie Corkery from the Great Salt Lake Institute, will offer insight on activism for preserving the Great Salt Lake as well as offering attendees insight on pursuing sustainability-centered careers.

In addition to Corkery, several other experts will share their insights. Madlyn Larson, NHMU associate director of education initiatives, will speak on critical thinking and storytelling, while Patrick Belmont, a professor of hydrology at Utah State University, will address systematic innovations to fight the climate crisis and how to get in touch with local representatives.

Local artist Sarah May, from the Making Waves Artist Collaborative, will host a workshop about the power of art in advocacy. The Southern Utah Wilderness Alliance (SUWA) will send a representative to speak about wilderness conservation, and learning scientist Lynne Zummo from NHMU and the University of Utah will discuss climate communication and education, drawing from lessons learned in NHMU’s Climate of Hope exhibit.

4 teens sit at a table looking at a laptop

Critical Action Lab, NHMU

Along with other workshops focused on climate action, the Critical Action Lab Fellows will host a workshop on climate optimism and mental health, providing valuable tools for navigating the emotional landscape of climate action.

The event is free to attend, lunch and snacks will be provided. Registration is required, and teens are encouraged to sign up early as seats are limited.

For more information about the 2025 Youth Climate Summit, including the full schedule of events and registration details, please visit nhmu.utah.edu/ClimateSummit. 

About the Critical Action Lab

The Critical Action Lab (CAL) is a paid internship program for teens passionate about climate action. CAL Fellows apply critical thinking skills as they work together to plan activities designed to engage their peers in spreading awareness about climate change and learning how to take action in their communities.    

About the Natural History Museum of Utah

The Natural History Museum of Utah is one of the leading scientific research and cultural institutions in the country. Established in 1963, the museum’s 10 permanent exhibitions are anchored by its state-of-the-art collections and research facilities containing approximately 2 million objects. These collections are used in studies on geological, biological, and cultural diversity, and the history of living systems and human cultures within the Utah region. The museum hosts approximately 300,000 general visitors a year and provides one of the most spectacular private event settings in the Salt Lake City area. NHMU also broadens the reach of its mission through a variety of science-based outreach programs to communities and schools throughout Utah, reaching every school district in the state every other year. 