GYA: Environmental  Explorer Levels:

1. Level 1: Beginner Explorer
2. Level 2: Eagle Explorer           
3. Level 3: Earth Explorer
4. Level 4: Summit Explorer
5. Level 5: John  Muir Award Winner

Level 1: Beginner Explorer:  Attendance at meetings & events, newsletter work.  In other words, fulfilling the basic requirements of membership:   “GYA Member”

Level 2: Eagle Explorer:  Consistent meeting and event attendance, intensive newsletter work,  PLUS going beyond beginner requirements by taking on a few extra projects and responsibilities.   “GYA Regional Representative”.

Level  3: Earth Explorer:  All of the above for both “Beginner Explorer” and “Eagle Explorer,” PLUS exhibiting consistent leadership in organizing and empowering others,  taking the initiative in projects, etc.     “GYA Regional Leader”

Level 4: Summit Explorer  All of the above for Levels 1 to 3 PLUS making significant progress in a community project that involves working with school officials, local politicians and/or environmental activists.  The project(s) can be in varying stages of completion, but you must have done enough work and have made a significant enough impression on non-GYA adults that your elevation to “Summit Explorer” will be supported by recommendations from one or more of the adults you have worked with.   “GYA Regional Executive Committee Leader”

John Muir Award winners will be drawn from students who have achieved Summit Explorer status.  This is the highest honor that GYA will confer upon members and the hardest honor to attain.  It is one of the most prestigious awards for young environmentalists and may be a joint award conferred by both the Sierra Club and the Green Youth Alliance.    We anticipate that in some years there may be no John Muir award winners. John Muir award winners are students who have gone way above and beyond in initiating, developing and completing significant environmental work.  The work can be one major project or a series of meaningful projects that involve cooperating with local school and government officials, environmentalists, local residents, etc.  The difference between Summit Explorers and John Muir Award winners is in the depth and breadth of the environmental work undertaken.   John Muir awards may be conferred upon an individual or a group of students (who have worked on a joint project):  In the case of a group project, each student will need to have contributed to the joint effort in a significant way.