Over 90 elementary school students and more than 15 educators from 13 schools across Grey and Bruce counties gathered at the Harry Lumley Bayshore Community Centre in Owen Sound for the fifth annual Youth Climate Action Conference on Oct. 28.
“There’s always a benefit to the community to having a great gathering spot to plan environmental projects and connect with teachers, kids and community civic leaders,” says The Sustainability Project Volunteer Board Member Leigh Grigg.
Keynote speakers included five Grade 9 students from Mary Immaculate Catholic School who spoke about an action project inspired by last year’s conference. Students then listened to local youth Anaïs Mitropoulos, who reflected on her personal journey from climate anxiety to hope and action.
Following the keynotes, students participated in exploratory labs developed in collaboration with Georgian College’s Community Innovation Lab at Sydenham Campus. Topics included cutting consumption, loving the land, wiping out waste, eliminating emissions, honouring nibi (water), and food for all.
“The Georgian College exploratory labs was a break through for us,” says Grigg. “We have had this event for five years now and this is the first year we’ve had this little set up and it really helped us.”
The sessions were facilitated by local organizations such as Beaver Valley Outreach, Grey Sauble Conservation Authority, the Saugeen Ojibway Nation Coastal Waters Monitoring Program, and other community changemakers. While students attended the sessions, teachers participated in professional development on how to incorporate climate topics into their curriculum.
In the afternoon, students worked with their teachers to develop action project plans. The day concluded with an energized session where students shared project ideas – such as planting pollinator gardens, building an outdoor classroom, or installing a water refill station.
“At the end, when they pitch them [their ideas], it’s really fun and we make it’s a really supportive and inviting atmosphere,” says Grigg. “Really safe space for them to stand up in front of all their peer from other schools and pitch their projects.”