Burlingame High School students have until Sept. 1 to apply for two civic leadership programs now recruiting from campus: the Youth Climate Ambassador Leadership Program and the Safe Routes to School Transportation Advisory Board.
Both opportunities appeared on the BHS homepage on Aug. 6, alongside a slate of pre-semester activities as the school prepares to welcome students back on Wednesday, Aug. 12, under new Principal Lauren Kelly.
Climate ambassadors wanted
The Youth Climate Ambassador program is a seven-month commitment run by the County of San Mateo's Sustainability Department in partnership with the Citizens Environmental Council of Burlingame, Peninsula Clean Energy and the San Mateo County Office of Education. According to the county's program description, students in grades 9-12 attend three in-person retreats, join virtual workshops on climate science and environmental issues, and complete a hands-on Community Impact Project addressing a real-world problem in San Mateo County.
The program fits BHS's existing sustainability track record. The school earned two 2026 Sustainable and Climate Resilient Schools Awards from the county Office of Education for projects called "Project Stack" and "CanYa Wag," according to SMUHSD's spring accomplishments report.
Safe Routes advisory board
The San Mateo County Office of Education's Safe Routes to School program is also seeking high school students for its Transportation Advisory Board, a civic role focused on improving walking and biking safety near schools. No specific deadline was listed in the posting; families should check bhs.smuhsd.org for application details.
More September deadlines
Sustainable San Mateo County is separately accepting applications through Sept. 1 for its 2026-2027 Youth Advisory Council, a year-long, fully remote program for leaders ages 15-24. The council's active committees work on adding tri-bin disposal systems in schools, advocating to ban single-use plastics and planning a clothing fix-it workshop in partnership with the 100 Cafes Campaign.
What's new on campus
Students returning to BHS will find classrooms upgraded under the district's $106 million Measure L-funded Classroom Transformation Project, which installed new furniture, technology, flooring, LED lighting and updated teaching walls at BHS and Capuchino High School over the summer. The district is also implementing a bell-to-bell cell phone ban using Quiet Case pouches, meeting California's Phone-Free School Act requirements.
Pre-semester calendar
The BHS homepage lists several activities before the Aug. 12 first day:
- Saturday, Aug. 8: Audition workshops open to all SMUHSD students
- Before Aug. 12: Panther Prep orientation for 9th graders and returning 10th-12th graders, Band Camp at the practice field and C101, and Flag Football tryouts at the practice field
Exact times for orientation, Band Camp and tryouts are posted at bhs.smuhsd.org.
