Our Current Focus
Education Initiatives
Central to our efforts, education initiatives are how we spread our message and get others to join our cause and other conservation movements to truly make an impact.
Advocacy Initiatives
Through our lobbying efforts, we seek to remedy issues that are plaguing our society and advance environmentally-friendly causes that are being hindered by political inaction.
Recycling Initiatives
California Water Conservancy promotes sustainability by enhancing recycling infrastructure and accessibility, starting with adding recycling bins to Bellarmine College Preparatory. The organization plans to expand these efforts to San Jose and the Bay Area, fostering a culture of environmental responsibility.
Education Initiatives
Community awareness is a cornerstone of our pro-environmental efforts. Through presentations, workshops, letter writing campaigns, phone banks, and speaker events, we try to get our communities involved as much as possible, recognizing that we will only truly be able to make a significant and lasting impact if we spread our message and get others to join our cause as well as other conservation movements. We hold various awareness and fundraising events in local libraries, schools, and community centers and frequently partner with other organizations in order to make the greatest impact.
Photo Gallery
Justice Summit Presentation
Resources
Simulation Game Materials
These are the materials we used for our simulation game at the Bay Area Teach in for Justice. Feel free to print them out and use them as your own if you are holding your own workshop!
Advocacy Initiatives
Once every spring, our team takes a trip to the State Capitol in Sacramento, where we present to various state legislators our policy proposals and lobby for pro-environment bills in the current legislation cycle. In the weeks leading up to this trip, we craft detailed and thorough talking points and policy proposals that emphasize our perspective as youth and as youth advocates fighting for environmental justice. Along with preparing ourselves, we also assist advocacy groups from other schools and organizations develop their own talking points and create advocacy networks that help bring our team and many of these other groups together under the same goal: striving for social justice. This way, we can all lobby together on specific dates and work together to create stronger, more compelling arguments and talking points. Aside from advocacy, our annual trip to Sacramento also includes giving workshops and presentations on issues we feel passionate and environmental change that we want implemented on a state level.
Resources
Policy Proposal: ACA 16
The California Green Amendment (ACA 16) will protect the right to clean air, water, and a healthy environment for every Californian, creating a permanent standard for environmental policies and ensuring they are protected from future rollbacks. By enshrining this right in the state constitution, California can join nine other states in solidifying environmental protections for generations to come. This amendment will not only safeguard public health but also preserve California’s natural resources and environmental justice efforts. In affirming this amendment, we take a proactive step towards a healthier, more resilient California for all.
AB 285
AB 285 addresses the lack of climate change education in current science curricula by requiring schools to include information on the causes, effects, and mitigation strategies of climate change. Starting in the 2024-2025 school year, this bill will ensure that students from grades one through twelve learn about the impact of human activities on global warming, rising sea levels, and the importance of renewable energy. By integrating these topics into science classes, we are empowering the next generation with the knowledge they need to tackle climate challenges and adapt to a changing world.
Testimony for Climate Change
As high school students, we’re already seeing the impacts of climate change in hotter summers, extreme weather, and the loss of natural wonders—threats that shape both our present and our future. Here in California, climate change brings severe heat waves, wildfires, flooding, and drought, threatening our ecosystems and communities. By supporting strong climate legislation, we can help make California a leader in sustainability and inspire meaningful climate action for generations to come.
Recycling Initiatives
We at California Water Conservancy recognize the importance of reusing recyclable materials such as aluminum, cardboard, and plastic. Our work revolves around making recycling infrastructure readily available to minimize waste and ensure that everyone can recycle. Currently, we are focused on adding recycling bins to Bellarmine College Preparatory’s campus, which would be a large step in making our school more sustainable. Looking ahead, we aim to improve and create recycling infrastructure throughout San Jose and the greater Bay Area
Resources
Trash Separation Reform Proposal
The California Water Conservancy’s initiative aims to reduce the school’s carbon footprint by implementing a waste separation system to sort trash, compost, and recyclables across campus. By organizing waste disposal more effectively, this project will reduce landfill contributions, improve recycling rates, and support the school’s commitment to environmental stewardship. Through this program, California Water Conservancy will not only foster a cleaner campus but also enhance sustainability awareness and set a model for responsible waste management.
