Here's a look at what it's like to be at the Bella Center for the UN Climate Change Conference: I previously had the chance to meet National Geographic photographer James Balog. Here's the interview I had with him: For move videos, check out WillSteger1 channel on Youtube!

Yesterday's march was thrilling. An estimated 100,000 people participated in the demonstration, and as someone who was there, my brain could not comprehend the scale of this massive call for climate action. While my camera is not shooting very defined pictures, I wanted to share what I have as we continue to write the story of what happened yesterday and what it means for the global climate movement.

Today I "officially" graduated from Grand Valley State University - but in Copenhagen rather than Grand Rapids, Michigan. Instead of walking across the stage in the Van Andel Arena and shaking President Thomas Haas' hand, I strolled the streets of Copenhagen with 100,000 of my closest friends. We walked, danced and chanted out way to the Bella center, the main site of the COP15 negotiations. The march was split up into different blocks of people and organizations. The lead block of the march were the Indigenous people of the world, and Aurora, one of our Minnesota delegates was at the very front of the loooong line of participants. The rest of us were in the 5th block (there were 30 overall) with the YOUNGOs (international youth), 350.org and TckTckTck. I actually got to meet Bill McKibben, head of 350.org for the second time today! I told him, along with everyone else that I came across today, that I was graduating from college in Copenhagen. Overall the event was peaceful and effective, despite some participants being arrested, demonstrating the solidarity in this movement for a clean and just energy future that exists between people from all over the world. What an experience it was taking part in an march with people singing and chanting in languages that I did not understand, but knowing that they were advocating for the same things as me - a Fair, Ambitious and Binding treaty. Here is a brief glimpse of the march from my perspective: Most of the signs had a clear message, some reading "Climate Justice Now," "There is NO Planet B," and "Blah, Blah, Blah: ACT Now." Thousands of signs, big and small, were used at the march making it very colorful and beautiful. There were so many creative costumes, banners and floats made for the march. Holly, a fellow Expedition Copenhagen team member was a penguin with 20 other people, highlighting the effects that climate change has on certain vulnerable species. We actually got to see the sun outside of the Bella Center during the march. It was a beautiful, cold day in the city. Citizens of Copenhagen along the route were hanging signs from their windows in support of 350ppm of CO2 and a binding treaty. Today was a great way to spend my graduation. I have a passion to create a more just and sustainable future for all, and a dedication to start now and never stop. What a great story I can tell my children and grandchildren when this conference and the decisions made here will determine the future state of the planet. I feel privileged to be a part of Expedition Copenhagen, this team, this conference, this historic moment. Because this is what we all need to be doing- working with each other to slow global climate change and visioning a better world. P.S. DID I MENTION THAT I GRADUATED FROM COLLEGE TODAY1?!?!?!?!?!?!!!!! : )

The Expedition Copenhagen team has been making tracks this week, organizing amazing actions and meeting people who can influence our climate future. Earlier this week, I met Rajenda Pachauri, chairman of the IPCC, and sat in on sessions with Secretary of Interior Ken Salazar and Secretary of Commerce Gary Locke, joined by fellow youth asking challenging questions. The youth are making sure that our voices are heard, echoing throughout Copenhagen and around the world. This past week, I have met informally with country representatives from Swaziland and Niger, I have taken part in creative events, and have helped spread the youth call for a strong, equitable, and legally binding treaty across the world. Yesterday, five of the Expedition members travelled to the USA Center inside the conference, where we united with NOAA, the EPA, and the US Forest Service to do an interactive video q & a with middle school and elementary school students back in Washington D.C. Their knowledge of climate change was impressive, and they were concerned about how it would effect wildlife such as happy the diamondback turtle. The kids were cute, making sure that the negotiators knew that they were counting on them to keep animals like happy from being wiped out by climate change.

With negotiations well underway here in Copenhagen, it's time to do a recap of some of the many events that have happened thus far. How better to do that than through a short photo-essay? Please enjoy the following, and for more photos check out our Will Steger Foundation flickr site.

Here's a look at our delegation- On the 5th and 6th we attended the Conference of Youth with youth representing over 100 countries. Thanks to WildThings for the coats --we've received a lot of good feedback for wearing them as it adds a more official and professional look to our delegation.

During the conference, I was able to attend a presentation by National Geographic photographer James Balog. He combines the best of science and art by recording photographs as time-lapse images from cameras positioned into glacial regions around the world. Through the photographs, a documentary of glacial melt can be observed, thus following the detriments of climate change in the most vulnerable areas. Check out his website to see his latest research project.

At the recent US EPA briefing, youth packed the room to take up 3/4 of the available space-- from the very front rows to way in the back. Over 500 US youth are here to show their support for climate change solutions and ask their representatives to do the same. During the briefing, 5 of the 9 questions asked were from youth. We are showing the US delegation that we care about our future and want the US to take a strong stand in these negotiations.

Just last night, the US youth gathered for dinner and discussion with Chinese youth to come up with a strong proposal for climate solutions between our two countries. Last night was a great start in building lasting, significant relationships that will continue after COP15 when we continue to work for change within our own countries.

This only skims the surface of all the things that have been occurring at COP15. Stay tuned for more; in the meantime check out this video to get a better idea of a day in the life of a youth delegate!

On Friday, I caught Jessy Tolkan at the Bella Center in Copenhagen to find out about the role of Midwest youth in fighting climate change. Tolkan, who is the executive director of the Energy Action Coaliton, the largest network of youth climate activists in the U.S., revealed that she was a Midwesterner herself, hailing from Wisconsin. Here’s a recap of what she said about how youth can flex their political muscle in the Midwest. Tolkan: My message to young people in the Midwest , is that the Midwest, in many ways, is the key to unlocking a clean and just energy future in the United States. It’s also critical that we flex the political muscle that we have in the Midwest. There are some very key senators from places like Iowa, Wisconsin, Illinois, the Upper Midwest that really need to understand that a clean and just energy future is good for business in the Midwest, that there is a significant and powerful role for the agricultural community to play in a clean and just energy future. It really is incumbent upon young people in the Midwest to have this conversation so that we’re building the will for bold action in the Midwest that we need. Some of the folks with the greatest amount of conviction hail from the Midwest so I know that if it can happen anywhere, it’s definitely the Midwest.

Today was Youth and Future Generations Day at the UN climate change negotiations in Copenhagen, Denmark. Youth were given t-shirts that read "How Old Will You Be in 2050?" on the front, and "Don't Bracket Our Future" on the back. Overall, 1,000 shirts for youth and 1,000 scarves for adults were handed out to show inter-generational solidarity and to represent the global movement toward a more sustainable future. In 2050 I will be 63 years old. My family, and those of my friends, will be preparing to be grandparents. It is these children, their lives and future that youth were advocating for today. The shirts and scarves were a compelling way to demonstrate visually the importance of including the youth in these negotiations. Youth had a great opportunity to meet with Ivo de Boer, UN Secretariat and a very influential and powerful individual at the COP15 negotiations. He sat on a panel with three other leaders, and three youth spokespersons. Today I witnessed one of the best speeches of my life. Ruchi Jain from the Indian Youth Delegation spoke about her experiences as a victim of climate change, and her dedication to stopping the most catastrophic effects from happening. She mentioned what youth from all around the world have been doing in their communities and dedication to solving the climate crisis. She floored the audience with her speech, which is in the video below. Video content from Danielle Ostafinski The youth were bright and orange today- they were hopeful of a good outcome for the negotiations, inspirational to others with the work they have been engaged in, and effective at spreading the youth message. Thank you Ruchi for giving such a compelling and amazing speech, and keep up the great work!