E.P.I.C. D4Y
(efficient, precise, innoVATIVE, Collaborative design for youth)
“I would recommend EPIC D4Y Symposium to a friend because I feel it introduced interesting and beneficial methods of problem understanding and solving that can be applied to a wide range of issues. I also had fun, made some new friends, and now have a way to try and make an impact in my community, all things that I believe others would enjoy experiencing.”
2025 E.P.I.C. D4Y Participant, Age 17
About This Program
E.P.I.C. D4Y (Efficient, Precise, Innovative, Collaborative Design for Youth) is a three-day design thinking symposium for high school students focused on improving youth access to nature.
Launched in July 2025 by EcoLogik interns Lucinda A. and Mayumi L., along with EcoLogik Youth Apprentices and facilitators Sam and Paul Wynns, the symposium brings students together to explore community challenges and develop innovative solutions. By the end of the experience, teams present ideas aimed at increasing access to nature, environmental education, and community connection for youth across San Diego.
Why this matters
Young people have powerful ideas for improving their communities, but they don’t always have opportunities to turn those ideas into action. The E.P.I.C. D4Y symposium empowers high school students to build real-world design skills, collaborate with peers, and develop solutions that address challenges in their own communities. By giving youth, the tools to innovate and lead, the program helps inspire the next generation of environmental problem-solvers.
The Symposium Experience
Day 1: Discover
Students begin the symposium by exploring challenges related to youth access to nature in their communities. Through guided discussions and interactive activities, participants learn the foundations of design thinking while identifying barriers that prevent young people from connecting with the outdoors.
Day 2: Design
Building on their discoveries, students collaborate in teams to brainstorm and develop creative solutions. Using design-thinking strategies, participants refine their ideas, explore different perspectives, and begin shaping innovative concepts that address the challenges they identified.
Day 3: Prototype and present
On the final day, teams bring their ideas to life by developing prototypes and preparing presentations. Students share their solutions and showcase how their designs could help improve access to nature, environmental education, and community connection for youth across San Diego.
Problem solving can be used everywhere and it can help so many different communities that I’m part of and the different ones around me.
2025 E.P.I.C. D4Y Participant, Age 17
Meet the 2025 E.P.I.C. D4y Facilitators
Sam Wynns – Facilitator
Lucinda A. – Design and innovation Intern
Mayumi L. – EcoLogik Intern
Paul Wynns – Facilitator
EcoLogik Youth Apprentices
“I have learned how to stand up as a leader and form a constructive solution to problems facing the communities that I and many others share, and that making meaningful changes and being a important part of my community is not far out of reach as I thought it would be.”
2025 E.P.I.C. D4Y Participant, Age 16
2025 E.P.I.C. D4y Symposium Photo Gallery
Day 1
Day 2
Day 3
2025 Participant Prototypes
New Year, New Plants
The New Year, New Plants event kicked off the year with a hands-on habitat restoration effort at Dog Beach in Ocean Beach, San Diego. Led by EcoLogik Design and Innovation Intern Lucinda A. and Executive Director Sam W., youth and community members partnered with the San Diego River Park Foundation to remove invasive plants and restore native habitat. Over 25 participants attended, clearing invasive species, filling seven trash bins, and planting 12 native plants in the restored area. This event was the first of five community programs developed from student prototypes created during the E.P.I.C. D4Y symposium.
Nature’s Market
Nature’s Market was a two-part community event designed to connect youth through environmental action and creative expression. The first gathering brought students together at César Chávez Park for a park cleanup, where participants removed nearly 10 bags of litter while building a collaborative spirit rooted in civic service. The following week, the project continued with a youth-led art showcase highlighting nature-inspired artwork and interactive activities. Youth artists shared their photography, sketches, and handmade pieces while engaging visitors in a creative craft activity that connected art and environmental awareness.
“I have applied my design thinking skills as President of robotics at my school to come up with ideas to improve our club and understanding how deal with certain issues that we have been facing. I have also applied these skills in my personal life with organizing myself and coming up with ways to improve my habits, productivity, and mental health.”
2025 E.P.I.C. D4Y Participant, Age 16
2025 E.p.I.C D4y Prototype photo gallery
WiFi Focus Park
The WiFi Focus Park project addressed a challenge many students face: balancing schoolwork with spending time outdoors. Students created a study session in a local park where participants could complete homework while enjoying nature. Equipped with snacks, tutoring support, and a mobile hotspot to ensure accessible WiFi, the event created a productive and welcoming outdoor learning space. Surveys from attendees showed that students felt more productive studying in nature and successfully completed their work during the session.
Native Plant Party
The Native Plant Party brought together art, education, and conservation to highlight the importance of native plants in San Diego ecosystems. Participants learned about the role of native plants, decorated plant pots, and planted native seeds to take home. Hosted at La Mesita Park, the event attracted families and community members who stopped by to paint, plant, and learn together. The hands-on activity encouraged participants to care for native plants while fostering a deeper connection to local ecosystems.
“After this symposium, I was inspired to start my own project about something that I was really passionate about. For me, that was working with kids. And because i’ve learned that it’s really crucial to have a team or someone to collaborate with, I reached out to my friend and asked brainstormed with her about ideas for a non profit or project. We actually ended up mind-mapping our ideas and what we came up with in the end was a combination of not just both of our ideas, but passions. We compiled my love for working and creating positive change with and for kids, and her love for the environment! That’s a project I’ve been working on with her and initial planning process was all on paper too, without the use of computers.”
2025 E.P.I.C. D4Y Participant, Age 16
2025 E.p.I.C D4y Prototype photo gallery
Thank you to everyone who helped bring the inaugural E.P.I.C. D4Y (Efficient, Precise, Innovative, Collaborative Design for Youth) Symposium to life! What began as an idea to empower youth through design thinking grew into an incredible three-day experience thanks to the dedication, creativity, and collaboration of so many people.
A huge thank you to EcoLogik interns Lucinda A. and Mayumi L., the EcoLogik Youth Apprentices, and facilitators Sam and Paul Wynns for guiding and supporting the process from concept to execution. We are also deeply grateful to the participants who showed up ready to think critically, collaborate, and imagine solutions for their communities. Your enthusiasm, ideas, and willingness to work together made this symposium truly special.
We would also like to extend a heartfelt thank you to the incredible partners and supporters who helped make this event possible. Thank you to the Jacobs Institute for Innovation in Education for generously providing space and support to host the symposium, and to the UC San Diego Design Lab for sharing their expertise and inspiration in the field of Design Thinking. We are also deeply grateful to the Prebys Foundation and the San Diego Foundation for their generous support and investment in youth leadership and innovation.
We are so grateful to everyone who contributed their time, expertise, and energy to making this event possible. We can’t wait to continue building this community of young innovators and changemakers—see you at the next E.P.I.C. D4Y Symposium!
“I learned how to work with a diverse group of youth-leaders, overcome challenges, and how to present in a more engaging way. I’ve learned the power of empathy through the usage of storyboarding – allowing me to connect with others on a deeper level.”
2025 E.P.I.C. D4Y Participant, Age 17