Looking for a Fun and Meaningful Way to Earn CM Credits?

By: Gwen Rousseau, AICP, APA-WA Youth in Planning Task Force Member

Consider presenting to youth about urban planning. Certified planners can log up to eight pro bono planning service Certification Maintenance (CM) credits per two-year reporting period for increasing the public’s understanding of planning. Presenting to youth about urban planning is an excellent way to inspire the next generation and build awareness and understanding of the profession.

October is National Planning Month, and APA and APA WA have many online resources you can use to engage youth in planning issues. One great resource is Washington By and By, our Chapter’s graphic novel about community planning here in Washington state. The book is available in hard copy and digitally in three languages: English, Spanish and Chinese.  

August can be a good time to reach out to schools before educators become immersed in the beginning of a new year. You can email a local Principal, Vice-Principal, and/or a social studies teacher. Or you might want to reach out to that friend who happens to be a teacher. Even if they cannot host you themselves, they may be able to connect you with the perfect educator.

Teachers love giving their students opportunities to grapple with authentic real-world problems. Consider expanding public participation on a local project to include youth. Your presentation materials and questions for the community will have already been developed, and you can adapt them simply to make them relevant to youth.

Inspiration for interactive activities for all ages could come from James Rojas’ book, Dream, Play, Build, where students recreate their favorite place. Search engines and AI can also be great resources. Below are three interactive presentation ideas generated by AI with the prompt, “presenting to youth about the planning profession:.”

1. “Build Your Own City”: Have youth design a neighborhood block, deciding where to place parks, housing, and schools while discussing zoning basics.
2. The Transit Game: Give them a map and a limited budget to draw a new bus or light rail line, balancing the needs of different neighborhoods.
3. Emoji Mapping: Show a map of their local area and have them place "smiley face" emojis where they feel safe and happy, and "frowning" emojis where it feels unsafe or boring.

Whether you present on a local planning issue or have youth build their ideal neighborhood with popsicle sticks, pompoms, and pipe cleaners, most important is to speak from your own experience and do what you are most comfortable with. Just do it – Reach out to your local school today and start inspiring the next generation of urban planners. Plus, have fun and get some CM credits to boot!