The Boca Raton City Council created the Community Advisory Panel (CAP) to provide a public forum for residents to express their concerns and initiatives regarding quality of life issues in Boca Raton. Several of the Council-appointed panel members are high school and college students who recently advocated to start a Youth Subcommittee of the panel. The subcommittee focuses on youth concerns and initiatives and invites local students to participate in regular meetings. They also encourage student participation in local government activities.
Two of the Youth Subcommittee volunteers are members of Boca Raton High School’s TREE Club (Taking Responsibility for Earth & Environment). With a passion for the environment and our coastal community, the Subcommittee started planning community service projects around the City to empower and encourage young volunteer groups from different schools to collaborate and work together on environmental projects such as planting trees, nature trail rehabilitation and beach cleanups. Because of Boca Raton’s coastal location, the Youth Subcommittee volunteers spend time outside, working next to each other with a common purpose that directly improves the quality of life in our City.
Through their community service projects, the Subcommittee has planted over 30 trees around the community, cleaned and restored one of Boca Raton's most historic nature trails, hosted over 30 beach cleanups, collected over 200 pounds of trash on City beaches and has had over 300 student volunteers assist in various projects.
Community service efforts by members of the Youth Subcommittee were recently recognized by the Mayor and City Council in a proclamation that proclaimed March 2019 as Youth Citizenry Month. The Youth Subcommittee has also submitted an application to be recognized for the 2019 Florida League of Cities Youth Council Community Service Contest.
For more information on boards and committees, visit the Board's and Committees web page or follow City of Boca Raton Boards & Committees on Facebook.
Youth Subcommittee accepting Youth Citizenry Month Proclamation from Mayor, March 2019
Youth Subcommittee Beach Cleanup, March 2019
Youth Subcommittee Beach Cleanup with Boca Raton Police Services, March 2019
TREE Club/Youth Subcommittee with City Council and Mayor on Arbor Day, April 2018
Youth Subcommittee Meeting
