Inspiring Youth Sustainability Leadership: Six Elements of a Transformative Youth Eco-Retreat

Abstract We suggest that the transformations which inspire true eco-leadership are nourished by being immersed in the values and practices of a more sustainable way of living. We explore this using a case study of a New Zealand youth sustainability leadership program called Make A Difference (MAD). Run by Auckland Council, the program is centered on a 3-day hui (social gathering) for selected high school students. We observed the hui in 2011 and 2012, ran workshops with the coordinators and participants from previous years, conducted an online survey with MAD graduates, and interviewed two participants during the 2012 hui. Six key elements were identified as underlying the hui's power: it is residential, it is held in a nature setting, it brings together inspiring role models, it models eco-friendly living, it helps participants develop their own ideas for action, and it endorses a positive approach to sustainability. We explore each of these in turn. In combination, we suggest these elements immerse part...