George Mason University
IN-3: Innovation 3

The Student Training for Environmental Protection (STEP) Summer Program is designed to give students the skills they need to become effective environmental advocates. It is a week-long course facilitated by some of the best youth organizers in the U.S. and Puerto Rico. During the week, students learn how to create or extend strong and successful groups that will be able to run effective environmental campaigns on their campuses or in their communities. STEP participants engage in interactive discussions about environmental issues in a holistic manner that include social and economic considerations. Topics include environmental racism, anti-oppression, and others such as: Organizing skills: Recruiting, Leadership Development, Coalition building, Campaign planning, Event planning Communication Skills: Public speaking, How to get media attention, Message development, Lobbying George Mason University's (Mason) Sustainability Outreach Coordinator initiated the program in 2009. The STEP program is open to any Mason student as well as any college aged student. With financial support from Mason, the STEP program covers food and housing for accepted students. Students can also apply for scholarships if they need further financial support. Interested students fill out an application to be part of the STEP program. As an example of its effectiveness in training, students from Mason that attended past STEP programs were able to utilize the training they received to organize and advocate for a student green fund at Mason that advances sustainability issues and benefits the entire Mason community.