Welcome to P.O.W.E.R!
Peer Outreach With Energy Resources (P.O.W.E.R) is an internship program for high school students in Montgomery County, Maryland, training students to provide energy education presentations at public libraries.
The 2022-23 internship season has begun! Check back soon to see what our current interns are working on.
Our Mission
Everything in our universe has energy. That’s why our mission is to empower youth to apply their knowledge of energy types, efficiency, and conservation in their everyday lives. As kids learn how their actions have positive and negative impacts on energy and the environment, teens develop the versatile skills they need to lead on issues they care about.
What We Do
In 2017, two enthusiastic environmentalists saw an opportunity to teach young kids in their community about energy. Their vision soon grew into an engaging scholastic partnership program; and thus, P.O.W.E.R. was born.
That year, the Montgomery County Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) and Nature Forward (formerly Audubon Naturalist Society) partnered to create the Peer Outreach with Energy Resources (P.O.W.E.R.) Internship. In this one-year internship, teens from local high schools are trained to present fun, informative, and interactive presentations during the summer that educate young kids in Montgomery County (MoCo), Maryland about energy types, efficiency, and conservation. These presentations are held in local libraries and are themed to match Montgomery County Public Libraries’ (MCPL) annual Summer Reading Program theme. Click “Apply” to get involved or “Register” to learn more about our virtual presentations!
How We Do It
Explore
We explore energy using a wide range of tools, whether they’re gadgets like thermal cameras and kill-a-watt meters or inquiry and imagination.
Educate
We educate kids about energy with engaging acronyms, fun movements and dances, question and answers, and games.
Empower
We empower kids with tips and ideas on how to conserve energy and use it more efficiently. We equip teens with the creative and public speaking skills needed to pursue their passions.
Sponsors
P.O.W.E.R 