Phillips Academy Youth Climate Summit
April 26, 2026, 9:30AM-3:30PM
The Future is Wild
We are living in a pivotal moment for our planet’s future. As the human footprint expands and environmental changes accelerate, protecting biodiversity has become a cornerstone of environmental and climate action. This year, our summit dives deep into the theme of biodiversity to explore how we can safeguard the ecosystems that support us all.
We are thrilled to welcome Anna Miller, award-winning documentary filmmaker and photographer, as our keynote speaker. Anna Miller's work captures the urgent intersection of human infrastructure and wildlife conservation, offering a unique lens on how we can coexist with the natural world. In addition to our keynote, the day will feature a film showing of Anna's latest work, interactive workshops led by students, and a guided Sanctuary walk to ground our discussions in nature.
A light breakfast and lunch will be provided.
Anna Miller
Documentary Filmmaker and Photographer
Anna Miller is an award-winning documentary filmmaker and photographer based in Boston. She has been a staff photographer and video producer for universities and nonprofits for more than a decade, and has a background in photojournalism, podcasting and public radio production.
Her short film, "The Snowy Owls of Logan Airport" follows the story of Norman Smith, widely known as the "Owl Man of Logan Airport," who has dedicated over 40 years to safely trapping and relocating snowy owls from the city’s busy runways. The documentary captures the high-stakes effort to protect these majestic Arctic visitors while exploring the broader impact of habitat loss and climate change on their migratory patterns.
The film has received significant critical acclaim, winning the Audience Choice Award at the 2025 American Conservation Film Festival. It was also an official selection at the Mystic Film Festival, the Monadnock International Film Festival (MONIFF), and was featured in the "Local Shorts" showcase at the historic Brattle Theatre.
At the Summit, we will have a chance to view "The Snowy Owls of Logan Airport" and hear from Anna Miller about her unique approach to environmental storytelling, the behind-the-scenes process of capturing this remarkable story, and her broader experience documenting wildlife stories.
Day of Schedule
9:30AM
Check-in & Breakfast
10:10AM
Welcome & Ice-Breaker
10:20AM
Film Showing: The Snowy Owls of Logan Airport
10:30
Keynote Speaker: Anna Miller, Documentary Filmmaker and Photographer
11:15
Break
11:30AM
Workshops
12:15PM
Lunch
1:00PM
Sanctuary Walk to Log Cabin*
1:30PM
Thematic Discussions
2:30PM
Return Walk Through Sanctuary*
3:00PM
Closing Activity
3:30PM
Departure
*It is possible to skip the Sanctuary walk and access the Log Cabin by vehicle if needed
Cochran Wildlife Sanctuary
Located on the eastern edge of the Phillips Academy campus, the Moncrieff Cochran Wildlife Sanctuary is a 65-acre living laboratory and a vital refuge for local biodiversity. Established in 1929 by trustee Thomas Cochran, the Sanctuary was envisioned as a "natural piece of ground" where students and the community could connect deeply with the wild.
The Sanctuary in comprised primarily of woodlands and quiet ponds, providing a safe haven for a wide array of species, including migrating wood ducks, red foxes, and white-tailed deer. The paths are primarily lined with American Larches and Eastern White pines, as well as spruces, hemlocks, oaks, maples, and mountain laurels. In the shaded undergrowth, observant hikers can find a spattering of mushrooms and sometimes find the rare and ethereal Ghost Pipe (Monotropa uniflora), a unique, white parasitic plant that thrives without photosynthesis.
To conclude our day, we will walk through the Sanctuary to immerse ourselves in the landscape before gathering for a collaborative brainstorm and facilitated discussion in the Log Cabin, a special building in the heart of the Sanctuary.
