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February 11, 2007

YIP: Going Greener in BC

British Columbia community foundation youth advisory councils have been following their participation in October's YIP: Going Green environment forum with a variety of activities in their communities. Watch this space as they report on their projects taking place over the next few months...

LEAFY grants (Learning Environmental Awareness For Youth) is a mini grants project developed and facilitated by the Squamish Foundation's Youth Action Council. The Squamish YAC is presenting workshops in 12 grade seven classes, with the goal of encouraging the youth to think of small projects that would benefit the environment in their school or community. The youth will then be told that the Squamish YAC is willing to grant them up to $250 to implement their project idea.

As a project wrap up and celebration, on April 23 (one day after Earth day) Squamish YAC will invite all the Grade sevens to join them for an "environmental fair" where the Grade sevens will share their projects (in the style of a "science fair" with displays) with each other and the wider Squamish community. The Squamish YAC will do their own mini-environmental project to share at the wrap up event as well.

West Vancouver Community Foundation's YAHU (Young Adults Helping U) supported the Cypress Student Summit, a conference with the theme of water preservation and awareness. The Summit brought together over 60 students from throughout the Lower Mainland over a weekend to learn about some of the issues surrounding water, including water rights and potable water in Africa, and to spread awareness and inspire action on the growing global issues surrounding this theme. Speakers included Severin Cullis Suzuki, Simon Jackson, and our own Quinn Runkle, YIP: Going Green co-facilitator and Sunshine Coast Community Foundation YAC member.

The Richmond Youth Foundation is partnering with several other groups to implement the 2010 Greenlympic Legacy Conference. This youth-run initiative focuses on the relationship between sustainability, the Olympics, and the regional urban population. Over 80 student participants will leave with resources and an action plan to establish a community project that will make a legacy impact on the environment and prepare the community for upcoming environmental changes while learning about environmental sustainability volunteer opportunities in the community of Richmond.

It is hoped that the legacy of the conference and resulting projects will stimulate a momentum that will increase awareness within the overall community and what pro-active actions individuals can take to maintain environmental stability.

The Kamloops Community Foundation Youth Advisory Council is holding an Environmental Conference for local high school students ages 13 to 18, focusing on the ways in which they can help protect their environment. They will learn about their community, getting a better understanding of their environment and finding out the ways that they can get involved with different volunteer groups that work with the environment.

Return to YIP Going Green main page.