Youth Action Center - Carrefour Jeunesse

The Otesha Project has announced the routes for the 2008 Otesha Cycling and Performing Tours. Applications are now being accepted for seven regional tours throughout Canada that will take more than 120 inspiring young change-makers on the journey of a lifetime. You could be one of them!

Tour members will share an incredible experience as they live as a mobile and sustainable community for two months. They will cycle from performance to performance, braving the elements, connecting with communities along the route, and exploring all the ups and downs of addressing environmental and social injustices through their own every day actions.

Tours will start in May, July, and September, departing from Ottawa, Vancouver, and Halifax.

Ever spent time on YouTube? Sure, most of us have – but not everyone knows how many incredible videos there are of youth out and about, bringing the sustainability dinosaurs up to date. Check out some of the ones we really liked…

Elissa Smith - Brower Youth Awards 2006: Elissa's project, Youth Climate Action, seeks to increase youth participation in environmental decision-making in both government and non-profit agencies. She serves as Chair of the Sierra Youth Coalition, the youth arm of the Sierra Club of Canada, and is a North American Youth Advisor to the United Nations Environment Program. Whoa!
www.youtube.com/watch?v=iLr1SICitEs

The UK Youth Parliament: In a series of interview conducted by youth, teenagers in Stafford air their views on the environment.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=RsT3GTzHKJw

Alaska Youth For Environmental Action: This video, written and directed by By Zoe Fuller & Sara Cannon, was produced in less than a week at the 2007 Summer Institute, an educational event for youth from all over the state of Alaska focusing on "Telling Our Stories" about environmental issues and concerns in our communities.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=cbKd4JF6gqQ

And something that’s not YouTube, but we thought was pretty cool
Media That Matters Film Festival: From fifth grade vegans from the Bronx to Egyptian garbage recyclers, this website gives you an idea about the kinds of films you’ll find at the annual festival and awards in May.

This article comes to us from the great folks at the Saskatchewan Environmental Society! They were excited to recognize the contributions of two Destination Conservation schools to Saskatchewan’s environmentally sustainable future…

“Two Destination Conservation Saskatchewan Schools Earn Waste Minimization Awards”
Edie Shepherd & the Unity Public School Green Team, and Curtis Wagner & St. Angela School, Saskatoon were honoured at the Saskatchewan Waste Reduction Council Waste Minimization Awards ceremony April 3 in Regina.

Award 1
Edie Shepherd & the Unity Public School Green Team. Edie Shepherd has been leading the Unity School Green Team for ten years. These active students recycle phone books and beverage containers and prepare milk jugs and cardboard for recycling. Edie constantly works to involve both students and fellow teachers and is a source of inspiration to many.

Award 2
Curtis Wagner & St. Angela School, Saskatoon After a waste assessment the students estimated that, since the school opened in 1987, they have thrown away enough garbage to fill the entire school. They started a comprehensive recycling program using a local contractor and now collect paper, plastic, glass, metal, beverage containers, small electronics and printer cartridges. As a result, the school has reduced its waste by 70 percent.

Learn More!
Destination Conservation: Get your school involved in a waste and energy reduction program with this Canada-wide group.

Saskatchewan Environmental Society: Working towards a sustainable future, find resources, programs and awards for your school and community.

Do you care about wetlands and love spending time outdoors? Are you between 13 and 17 years old? Apply to be a part of the Ducks Unlimited Canada (DUC) Great Greenwing Adventure to take part in the eco-adventure of a lifetime!

Ten lucky teenagers from across Canada will be selected and sponsored by DUC for an action-packed week at Oak Hammock Marsh, Manitoba. From August 9-15, 2008 this team of young environmentalists will have fun learning new skills while getting involved in exciting, hands-on activities, like:

Plus, you’ll spend time with DUC’s scientists and interpreters learning about the cutting-edge environmental research that guides DUC’s wetland conservation work. Track down a duck using radio telemetry. Choose a conservation project site using satellite imagery and GIS technology. You’ll get to do ALL of this and more at the Great Greenwing Adventure!
Make new friends from across Canada and have a chance to attend another adventure camp in the southern United States. It’s a week filled with campfires, swimming and outdoor fun!

A Greenwing Success Story
Here’s a very cool success story from a student who started out with Ducks Unlimited Canada a couple years ago, and joined in on a great Greenwing Adventure last summer.

When Brandon Hicks stepped off the bus for what seemed like any other Grade 4 field trip, he had no idea how his life would be changed by what he was about to see.

“I can just remember the high school students who were helping deliver the program,” he says. “They seemed excited, and the things they were showing us were really awesome. It was really interesting, and as soon as we got back to school I knew it was something I wanted to do.”

Brandon vowed that day to become a “Wethead” like the high school students he had seen in action- volunteers at the Ducks Unlimited Canada Tantramar Wetlands Centre in Sackville, NB – although he had to wait until grade 9 to fulfill his dream.

Since then, Brandon has had the opportunity to mentor younger students about the values of wetlands, help maintain the healthy wetland at the Centre, participate in bird studies, and work as an interpreter for the summer through a Green Street-funded internship grant.

Last summer, Brandon was also selected to attend DUC’s Great Greenwing Adventure at Oak Hammock Marsh, an opportunity that Brandon says was “one of the biggest things” he’s done so far.

Apply Now!
To apply to be a part of the Great Greenwing Adventure team, Fill out the on-line application form no later than June 1, 2008. Tell us about the environmental and outdoor experiences you’ve already been involved in and why you’d be a good choice to go on the Adventure. THAT’S IT!

Become a member of the Youth Advisory Committee or a Youth Mentor!
Are you a youth age 13 -17 who is passionate about the environment? Would you like to take your interest to the next level? The Youth Advisory Committee (YAC) wants YOU to apply to become either a new YAC member or a Youth Mentor. You could help guide Green Street, its Youth Engagement Program, and its environmental education Program Providers in offering credible, accessible and affordable programs that are relevant to students’ concerns, curriculum-linked, encourage a sense of personal responsibility for the environment, foster a commitment to sustainable living, and promote an enduring dedication to environmental stewardship.

1) Youth Advisory Committee Members
The Youth Advisory Committee (YAC) is a group of 6-8 high school students from across Canada that act as the youth voice in shaping Green-Street. As a YAC member, you would:

2) Youth Mentors
The current Youth Advisory Committee (YAC) has developed a new program to bridge the gap between the YAC and organizations known as “Program Providers” that currently offer Green Street certified programs for kids and youth. Youth Mentors will act as consultants on effective youth programming to a GS Provider whose programs they have been involved in and keep the YAC up to date on their Provider’s programs, events and opportunities.

How would I benefit from being involved?
As either a Youth Mentor or Youth Advisory Committee member, you will have the opportunity to have your voice, ideas and concerns heard across Canada. You will also gain valuable experience and insight, along with credit for volunteer hours for graduation requirements and a reference letter for jobs and scholarships!

You can apply to be either a YAC member or a Youth Mentor, or be considered for both. YAC applicants do not have to be currently involved with a Green Street Program, but Youth Mentors will need a staff member from the Green Street Program Provider you are involved with to endorse you by sending in the nomination form on page 3.

Catching the Spirit is an exciting summer program run by youth for youth! Get involved with youth like yourself who want to have fun while exploring and caring for Metro Vancouver Regional Parks in your community. You can be a part of the program either as a Participant or as a Peer Leader…

Being a Participant
Open to youth between the ages of 12 and 18, this is your opportunity to learn about parks and our environment, while camping out and helping with cool park projects that improve habitat and enhance our regional parks. You’ll learn about hot topics like sustainability and stewardship, and also develop valuable leadership skills. Plus as a participant, your volunteer contribution can go towards earning community service awards and school credit. All this while having a great time outside; and best of all, it’s FREE!

Being a Peer Leader
If you are between the ages of 16 and 18, and are ready for an extra challenge, then consider applying to be a Peer Leader. By becoming a Peer Leader you will: take on a leadership role by volunteering a minimum 100 hours to the program; receive additional leadership training, including FREE First Aid certification; receive a $100 scholarship, and also have an opportunity to apply for, and be awarded a $500 scholarship grant.

Is there a particular environmental issue that you want to talk about? Or, would you like to help foster environmental awareness amongst your peers but don’t know where to start? Well, ecoMentoring may be the right program for you!

The ecoMentors program engages high school volunteers from across the country to actively participate in environmental education. Outfitted with training and activity-focused resources, you will feel confident and ready to conduct environmental education workshops in local elementary school classrooms.

After the completion of four classroom workshops, you will receive a certificate of completion, reference letter, and a rewards package of green goodies. As an ecoMentor you will also benefit from a variety of other opportunities such as a chance to obtain increased training, attend conferences to represent the program, and other workshops to further their skills. Get the word out and get involved today!

Passionate, curious, determined youth are invited to get involved! The Vancouver Aquarium, working with the 2008 Coastal Zone Canada Conference, is hosting a 2 day Forum of workshops, career and science panels dedicated to youth between the ages of 14 – 29.

The Youth Forum 2008 will focus on information, action and outcomes examining what specific contribution youth — who they are, their culture, their lifestyles and age — can make toward solving some of our most pressing environmental issues.

Plan to be in Vancouver on May 23-26th for Panels, Sessions, Workshops, Field trips and fun at the Vancouver Aquarium! Check out www.vanaqua.org/czcyouthforum for details on how to register.