The Inspiring Young Emerging Leaders (I-YEL) program is a high school leadership initiative designed for students attending San Francisco and Marin public schools. Since its inception in 2001, the program has been at the forefront of empowering young adults with the skills they need to serve as more effective leaders within their communities. These skills are cultivated through a combination of project management learning, community involvement, and outdoor trips. I-YEL focuses on building leadership skills and raising awareness of social and environmental justice issues. Participants get the chance to expand their leadership abilities, connect with social and environmental justice movements, and serve as ambassadors for their national parks. National parks serve as the backdrop for this learning. In these settings, the students not only coordinate events and teach lesson plans but also explore and address social and environmental justice issues. They further serve as park ambassadors, shaping how these parks support communities. There is a practical aspect to this learning opportunity, where participants get to apply their skills in real-world scenarios. For example, they have participated in planning the Backyard Bound YEL project, a youth summit that brings together various Bay Area youth groups. The program's participants led the six-month planning process, focusing on a theme around “zero waste”, which emphasized the importance of not wasting individuality, voice, or natural resources. The I-YEL program takes place during the school year, from October to May. The application process for the program commences in September. The I-YEL program is not just about leadership development. It also equips participants with the skills to influence change in their communities and society at large. By the end of the program, students are expected to have a deeper understanding of social and environmental justice issues and the role of national parks in addressing these. They would also have gained practical experience in managing projects and coordinating events, thus enhancing their future community leadership potential.