It's been a little less than a year since I, and 20 members of our student group Climate Action Now, flew off to D.C. for the national Power Shift conference. And it was rad. We marched and yelled, learned how to organize and cheered each other on and collectively I think we could have taken on the world that wekeend. Since that time, I have been distracted and redirected by summer vacation, work, class, friends, and the rest of my life as a university student. I've reconsidered my life plan multiple times and then remembered that if you want to make God laugh, make a life plan. What I'm saying is I haven't done sh*t, and that's okay... for now.

Last year I left Power Shift feeling recharged. I felt ready to take on big oil singlehandedly, harass my congressmen endlessly, and fight till the death for change. Now I realize that I've done little more than recycle. The other pieces of my life took over and my activist fire died out. All of the skills I learned were stashed away in the back of my mind to be pulled out of some dusty drawer later when I thought I might get paid for using them.

But now, things are changing again. Our team has come together and spent the last semester, and for some longer, planning another Power Shift. A Rocky Mountain Power Shift that will showcase the amazing Big Sky country and all it has to offer and protect. This will be a chance to recharge students like me, teach them why and how to fight and win their battles, remind them why this is important, and why it is fun.

Rocky Mountain Power Shift is a weekend loaded with reasons that we need change, tools to use to get that change, and hundreds of people that want to work with you every step of the way. And even people (Bill McKibben, Alec Loorz) that have blazed the trail for the rest of us. To me, Rocky Mountain Power Shift will be the recharge that I need. The reminder that just because I have stepped away from it does not mean the need for change has disappeard. I have reconnected with everyone I marched and chanted and danced with last year in D.C., few of which have slacked off as much as I have.

If you are feeling worn out, if you are feeling doubtful, if it is too much committment, too much money, too draining, I beg you to reconsider. This weekend will send you away with more reason to fight, more resources to use, and more friends to stand by your side. This weekend will remind you why you can't ever just stop.

Welcome to Rocky Mountain Power Shift!