About Earthminds

Born from a parent's wish to help their daughter make real change, Earthminds became a 16-week pilot that gave a group of young people the tools to solve local problems.

How it started

In late 2024, my 14-year-old daughter expressed frustration about climate change and her generation's future. She wanted to do something meaningful but felt overwhelmed by the scale of the problems and underwhelmed by the solutions offered to young people.

Traditional environmental education felt too theoretical. Youth activism seemed to focus on protesting rather than problem-solving. She wanted to create real, tangible change but didn't know where to start.

That sparked the idea for Earthminds: a program that would give young people the tools, frameworks, and support to tackle real problems in their communities — starting small, thinking systemically, and building confidence through action.

Our mission & approach

The mission

To empower young people to become effective changemakers — giving them practical tools, systems-thinking frameworks, and supportive communities to tackle real problems in their local contexts.

The approach

  • Start local: real problems in students' communities
  • Think systems: understand root causes and connections
  • Act small: micro-projects that build confidence
  • Learn together: peer support and collective reflection

Acknowledgments

Earthminds wouldn't have existed without the support and collaboration of many people and organisations:

Nelson community partners

  • Nelson City Council
  • Nelson Environment Centre
  • Nelson College, Nelson College for Girls, Nayland College, Garin College
  • Chia Sisters
  • Nelson Tasman Climate Forum

Mentors & advisors

  • Ceara Bickerton — innovation expertise
  • Ryan Thelin — youth peer facilitator
  • Richard Brudvick — educator and adviser
  • Local iwi education coordinators
  • 28 brave pilot participants who trusted the process
Special thanks To the Ministry of Inspiration for hosting our sessions, the parents who drove teenagers to weekend field trips, and most importantly, to the young people who showed up week after week with energy, creativity, and hope. You proved that young people don't just inherit problems — they solve them.

Funding & how it ran

The Nelson pilot was funded through personal investment, with support from partners who believed in giving young people real agency.

Earthminds ran as a one-off pilot rather than an ongoing organisation. We've kept the core materials — the starter kit — freely available so anyone can adapt them, without cost being a barrier.

Want to connect?

I'm always interested in hearing from other parents, educators, and young people working on similar initiatives. Feel free to reach out to share ideas or ask questions.

Get in touch