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November 26, 2006

YIP Going Green: Report on the environmental forum run by BC YACs
20-22 October 2006

The Evans Lake Forestry Education Society Camp near Squamish, BC, was the site of youth gearing up for environmental action, as young people from three continents participated in the YIP: Going Green youth forum. The event was organized by members of BC community foundation youth advisory councils (YACs) to encourage and enable YACs from throughout BC to get more involved in environmental grantmaking and leadership activities.

In addition to British Columbia YAC members and their adult advisors, participants included youth from community foundations in Hamilton, Ontario and Kaliningrad, Russia. Together with Canadian and African youth involved in a Canada World Youth exchange program, they learned about environment issues, and ideas and skills for action from environment and youth organizations such as Check Your Head, Smartgrowth, the Evergreen Foundation, and 20/20 Vision.

They also heard from YACs and community foundations that have already been involved in environmental grantmaking and leadership, such as the Hamilton Foundation YAC's POET program (Protecting Our Environment Together), the Sunshine Coast Community Foundation's "Garbage-free Lunch Days" and the Community Foundation of the South Okanagan's "Youth in Action" high school environmental grants program. A short documentary on water conservation produced by students attending Princess Margaret Secondary School in Penticton titled "Stop the Drip" was also featured.

Before returning to their communities, participating youth made plans for action, staying in touch, and building on the Going Green experience at local, regional and international levels. Some of their ideas to explore and plans for action are below, and watch this space for more news as their activities take shape!

Sunshine Coast:

Become more self-sufficient in our community:

• Update community garden
• Clear broom
• Cafeteria garden/green house
• Encourage alternate transportation
• Move power line trees and marsh reforestation
• Environmental YIP: float in parade
• Green theme for banners
• Greenways and paths around back school fields
• Natural species garden at schools; marsh; all over the coast!
• Iris Griffiths Centre in Pender Harbour (sponsor children's birthday parties)
• Sponsor workshops for the public
• Green sports day on earth day

Use:

• fund development ideas
• partnerships (Rotary?)
• Iris Griffith Centre
  • Children days
  • Birthdays
• Ruby Lake Lagoon Society
  • Marsh Exploration
• Beach walk
  • Tide pool/ exploration
  • Beach clean-up

Columbia Valley:

• Intergenerational activities
• Bottle collections for environmental awareness
• Cenotaph clean-up
• Courtyard/student study area greening
• Garbage clean-up of Blueberry
• Pothole Park
• Big box stores
• Community garbage/recycling centre
• Extension of boardwalk on the wetlands
• Althamer clean-up and highway welcome sign
• Bike/hiking trails to connect sections of town; also bus transportation
• Greenhouse project and composting program
• Rec plex; extension of youth centre

Squamish:

• Environment mini-grants program fro Grade 7 "LEAFY Grants" (Learning Environmental Awareness for Youth)
• Awareness conference

Surrey:

Waves of Youth purpose:

• to create and strengthen relationships with other youth
• to celebrate success
• to raise awareness of our YIP

VIPs; recipients of our Canadian Heritage grants; other YACs/YIPs/ CYDC Location: Camp Alexandra in Crescent Beach  December 8-9.

Kamloops:

Major problems:

• Pine beetle: chop down trees; raise awareness/ research; youth planting trees
• Sewage treatment: river clean-up; raise awareness; write letters to city council from youth (contest)
• Water Conservation
• Raise awareness in the schools: competition; talk to leadership groups; get involved with "Watersmart"; water meters
• Recycling
• Group of high school students who go around collecting recyclables; public awareness

Possible solutions:

• Youth Environment Conference: share info, resources,  bring home to schools; start environment groups in their schools; from there apply for a grant
• Funding
• Newsletter on environment: ask principals, funded by school district
• Parent foundation: ask for part of a grant to address environmental issues– assist McQueen Lake project

Return to YIP Going Green main page