Kauaʻi Opens Free Youth Climate Class, Applications Due January 9

The Kauaʻi County Office of Economic Development opened enrollment on December 21 for the fourth Youth Climate Class, a hands on semester program offered to high school students across the island. The course will begin in February 2026, is free to attend, and accepts up to 15 students. Weekly sessions are scheduled for Wednesdays after 3:30 p.m., with additional field trips, site visits, and meetings with local leaders built into the curriculum.

The program curriculum focuses on six areas of local relevance: clean energy, natural resource management, waste reduction, local food systems, smart and sustainable communities, and green workforce and education. Students will partner with a local business to implement sustainability actions during the semester. Those projects may qualify participating businesses for Hawaiʻi Green Business Program recognition, linking student learning to concrete economic incentives for local enterprises.

With a cohort capped at 15, the class is intentionally small to provide hands on experience and direct mentorship. That scale supports intensive project work but also limits access, meaning organizers and families will need to weigh transportation, after school commitments, and extracurricular schedules when considering applications. The weekly late afternoon schedule may affect participation among student athletes and those with after school jobs, an important consideration for equitable access across the island.

From an economic perspective, the program aligns with broader trends toward workforce development in sustainability sectors. By exposing students to clean energy, natural resource management, and local food systems, the class acts as an early pipeline into fields that are growing nationally and in Hawaiʻi. For local businesses, partnering with student teams can generate low cost sustainability improvements and public recognition that may support marketing and operational efficiencies.

Applications are due January 9, 2026. The Office of Economic Development published an online application link and contact details with the announcement for prospective applicants seeking more information about eligibility and the application process.