1. Identify Opportunities
There’s nothing like a good cause to bring out students’ leadership qualities. Help your students identify important environmental issues in your community—such as a park or stream that needs cleaning up. Discuss with students the importance of teamwork and good leadership in solving such problems.

2. Encourage Students to Ask Why
Leaders are people who don’t accept problems as the status quo. They are often the ones to ask the tricky questions. If they’re not satisfied with the answers, good leaders are able to dream up possible solutions. To get students thinking like leaders, ask them how they would solve the problems identified above.

3. Present Historical Role Models
To help students develop their own leadership skills, identify models of leadership and civic engagement, both current and historical. Go here for ideas for ideas for possible role models.

4. Present Student Role Models
Prompt students to think about their own leadership styles as well as those of other kids their age. For ideas of student heroes, click here.

5. Tools of Change
Students might have the drive to make a difference and take a leadership role in helping to solve environmental problems—but they aren’t always sure about how to go about it. Talk to them about effective tools that can help them make a difference. Click here to show them how to start a positive letter writing campaign. Remind students that there are community groups working to solve environmental issues important to them—and that these groups might welcome young volunteers.