Join us for a panel of local speakers involved with the Youth Salmon Protectors (YSP), a program of the Idaho Conservation League working to build a coalition of young people across the Northwest dedicated to honoring tribal treaties, breaching the Lower Snake River dams, and saving wild salmon and steelhead. The panel will each share perspectives on Idaho's salmon and take questions from the audience.

This program will be livestreamed and available to watch later. Click here to watch online.

Speakers will include:

Leila Brickley, a senior at Wood River High School, helped facilitate the start of the Blaine County YSP chapter alongside Lilia Page and Hazel Ludwig ‘23. As someone who grew up hiking, skiing, swimming, and otherwise appreciating the wonder that Idaho’s wilderness has to offer, she’s always felt deeply passionate about preserving its beauty for generations to come. She’s deeply invested in activism and providing equal opportunities for as many communities as possible, and pursues these goals through YSP as well as with Amnesty International, High School Democrats of America, and the Youth Philanthropy Initiative. When not studying or championing salmon rights, Leila can be found playing around in the dance studio, learning music with people she adores, or staying up too late writing poetry. 

Fisher Hattula is a junior at Wood River High School with a deep passion for environmental conservation. His journey began when he joined NSR-Nuorat, an organization dedicated to empowering Sámi youth to protect and enhance both their indigenous lands and the global environment. As an indigenous person, Fisher believes that preserving the land we walk on is one of the most vital responsibilities we have. When he’s not advocating for environmental causes, Fisher can be found in the practice room, immersed in music or tackling the challenges of his music theory classes.

Cora Ward is a junior at Wood River High School. In her free time, she enjoys dancing and playing the violin. Having grown up in the valley, Cora developed a passion for fishing at a young age, which led her to appreciate the vital role salmon play in the local ecosystem. This understanding inspired her to join YSP, where she is actively working to protect salmon as a keystone species in the valley.

Sarah Leidecker is a senior at the Sage School who grew up calling the Middle Fork, Main, and Lower Salmon rivers home. After studying salmon biology, she’s come to realize that the preservation of this wilderness area, and so many others, hinges on the preservation of the salmon. Sarah expands her interests in environmental and social justice from YSP to working with The Alliance of Idaho, the USCRI Refugee Center in Twin Falls, and the Flourish Foundation. When she’s not in school or dancing her heart out, you can find Sarah hiking carbonate or settling down to watercolor—or both. 

A senior at WRHS, Frances Camilli was initially made aware of the impact of the Lower Snake River Dams during a river trip on the Middle Fork River back in 2020. A friend had invited her along for her first-ever river trip, and she left the Frank Church Wilderness a week later with a newfound appreciation for Idaho's favorite aquatic species. Since then, Frances has been dedicated to uncovering the policy issues surrounding this topic, pursuing various legislative outlets, including Girls State and the Senate Page Program, which have helped her further develop her understanding of environmental policies. When she’s not at school, she can be found behind the line at Powerhouse, skiing with friends, or making overly specific Spotify playlists.