Youth Climate Action Summit

Tuesday, November 14, 2023
9 am to 4 pm
North Grenville Municipal Centre
Kemptville ON
REGISTRATION NOW CLOSED - EVENT IS FULL!

Youth Climate Action Summit

Tired of hearing about climate change? Ready to do something about it?
Welcome to the Youth Climate Action Summit – For Youth, By Youth!

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Connect, Discover, Create

Discover climate change facts from the experts. Explore climate action in hands-on workshops (you choose which ones are most interesting to you). Work to build a Climate Action Plan for your school or community. Share your successes and challenges with the YCAS community.

Support the Youth Climate Action Summit!

When you buy TruEarth products, 20% of your total sales will go to the Youth Climate Action Summit!
TruEarth's products are lightweight, plastic-free, eco-friendly essentials like laundry strips and dishwasher tabs.
Check it out, and remember to use the link to place your order!

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What is the Youth Climate Action Summit?

Connect

Meet like-minded youth from secondary schools, community groups and homeschools from across eastern Ontario – and beyond!

Map of November 2022 Attendees

Photo credit: Aquarium

Discover

Learn about climate change and climate action during the keynote address.

Choose 2 interactive workshops that interest you.

Climate, Community and Self-Care - Bonita Ford
Climate Change, Extreme Weather and Being Prepared - Joe Reid and Rebecca Shams
Food with the Farmer's Face on it: Exploring your local food system - Leela Ramachandran
Assessing Home Energy Efficiency - Daniel Cogan
Native Plants and their Importance - Hugh Metcalfe

Meet the 2023 Speakers!

Rebecca Shams (she/her) is a Health Promoter with the Leeds, Grenville & Lanark District Health Unit, and works primarily with youth and substance prevention. Rebecca loves working with young people and helping create opportunities for them to engage with their community, make their voices heard and lead both their peers and adults in driving change.

Leela Ramachandran has run organic vegetable farms for over ten years. She helped create and manage the Start-Up Farm Program at Ottawa's Just Food Farm, training and supporting new farmers. She was a founding member and general manager of Farmhouse Food, a farmer co-operative offering a multi-farm CSA program in Ottawa-Gatineau. Leela currently works at Kemptville Campus, where she manages local food programs.

Joe Reid (he/him) is a Health Promotion Consultant with the Leeds, Grenville & Lanark District Health Unit, specializing in healthy environments, including climate change mitigation and adaptation. Joe’s work focuses on policy that creates healthier environments that are more resilient to the impacts of climate change and educating the public about how to adapt to the impacts of climate change.

Bonita Eloise Ford M.A., B.Sc. Bonita Eloise Ford is the author of the book “Embers of Hope: Embracing Life in an Age of Ecological Destruction and Climate Chaos.” Bonita facilitates the Youth Climate Circle and mentors facilitators at Youth Climate Lab. She has taught permaculture, Nonviolent Communication, Reiki, and gardening, and she has led groups around the world for over 20 years. Bonita loves eating wild foods, talking to the plants, and dancing barefoot to her favourite music. To learn more about her work, visit www.livinghEARTH.net and www.embersofhopebook.com.

Daniel Cogan has been assessing and providing recommendations for building energy efficiency for over 2 years. He is a qualified energy advisor for the EnerGuide Rating System and Energy Star for New Homes. Daniel works for the Ontario division of Homesol, a leading provider of energy assessors for the Government’s Greener Homes Initiative.

Cam Jones is the UCDSB's Principal of Student Success and Real-World Learning. He travels the world by bike (as often as possible) and foot, finding his best-self in nature surrounded by trees and lakes. When he's not in motion he's making music. Cam believes that all learning begins with meaning, purpose and contribution: he leads lasting change in education that features students in the word, in their communities, actioning the change they wish to see, as the work they do in school.

Michèle Andrews (she/her) is the co-Founder and Executive Director of DoorNumberOne.org. Founded in 2020 right here in Leeds-Grenville, their mission is to provide practical inspiration for the transition to a just, beautiful and regenerated world. Michèle and the team work with schools across Canada to create and implement high-impact whole-school climate action plans. Michèle believes that schools have the potential for tremendous leadership in climate action in their communities and beyond.

Wes Herring grew up at Rideau Hall (Governor General’s Residence), the son of the head gardener for the Governor General and the Prime Minister. This developed into a love for greenhouses and all things growing! Wes is now a retired civil servant with a varied career, including: banker, Statistics Canada data collection operations manager and President of an animation company. He holds an accounting degree and an MBA from Queen’s University.

Kathryn Allwright-Casselden (she/her) is a Public Health Nurse with the Leeds, Grenville and Lanark District Health Unit. Kathryn works with municipalities to help make communities healthy and safe places to live, work, and play. In her work, Kathryn makes connections between health and climate change and works with municipalities on climate change adaptation and mitigation projects like improving active transportation networks.

Rosa Palladini is a registered psychotherapist (qualifying). Her practice focuses on helping individuals reach their goals. She has particular expertise in: anxiety, coping skills, school issues, depression, and stress.

Hello, My name is Natalie (They/Them) and I am the Gap Project Coordinator at Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society (CPAWS-OV)! I have recently joined the team at CPAWS-OV after taking 4 months off to travel during the summer after finishing my undergraduate degree at Carleton University Majoring in Law, Policy and Government with a minor in Environmental Studies. My academic interests are diverse however I enjoy urban geography, environmental and Indigenous law. During my Undergraduate Degree I worked at Crown Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada and Indigenous Services Canada, learning the importance of reconciliation and the struggle for decolonization as a settler. That's why at Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society I have the pleasure to uplift First Nations voices and perspectives as we strive to restore our nation-to-nation relationship through our commitment to conservation, protecting biodiversity and uplifting traditional land-based practices and ethics. Guided by this I hope that during my time at CPAWS we can make critical progress to protect vital wildlife corridors in southeastern Ontario.

Hugh Metcalfe (he/him) owns Naturaide, a company that promotes good land stewardship through services such as nutrient management planning and installing native plant gardens for clients. A graduate of Fleming College's Fish and Wildlife Technician, Hugh has always had a keen interest in the natural world and has worked on several university wildlife research projects in Canada and the United States.

(Mary West) A love of nature ,our environment ,sustainability, and social justice drives Mary's justice for positive change. Last year her curiosity and commitment to sustainability in the fashion industry was recognised at her school and Regional Science Fair. Mary's engaging presentation of "Exposed Style" lead to her recognition winning the : North Grenville Rotary Science Fair 2023, FCC Naturalist/ Environment Award; Rideau St. Lawrence Science Fair 2023, Greenhouse Gas Reduction Award, sponsored by Greenfield; as well as the Junior Real Environmental Action Award 2023, sponsored by the Rideau Environmental Action League. Mary West is a student at North Grenville District High School, passionate Environmentalist and social activist, committed to being part of the climate solution.

Sasha Huybregts (she/her) is the Madawaska Highlands Conservation Coordinator at the Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society (Ottawa-Valley Chapter). She has been with CPAWS-OV for a bit over a year now, where she is working towards creating a new protected area in the Madawaska Highlands. Before joining CPAWS-OV, she completed her bachelor's degree at the University of Guelph where she studied environmental sciences and ecology. She also completed an undergraduate thesis during her final year of studies on feedback loops in coral reef ecosystems. During her time as a student, she also completed several co-ops including two at Environment and Climate Change Canada and one at Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada.

Create

Learn how to turn ideas into action!

1) Identify the Issues – Register by Oct. 16, 2023 and join us online as we collaborate to explore environmental concerns in our communities. There will be new postings every week!

2) Choose a Topic – Join us in-person at the Summit on Nov. 14, 2023. Work with your team to decide which issue to tackle in 2023!

3) Create a Plan! – At the Summit, we’ll cover how to turn an idea into a plan that you can put into action! Our online space will have extra resources and the wisdom of the YCAS community available.

4) Put the Plan into Action! – If you need to adapt your Climate Action Plan, do it!

5) Share! – The YCAS community loves to hear everything about Climate Action Plans – your successes, your challenges, and your adaptations! If you have a CAP that you want to share – let us know!

Char-Lan District High School built a composter to support their school gardens. Food from the gardens goes to a free breakfast program for students and a local food bank!

Osgoode CAP 2023 - canoe garden (PC Rachel Lafond)

Osgoode Township High School built a canoe garden with native plants to encourage pollinators. They also planted a microforest in the school yard!

Rideau District High School started an Environmental Club! They raise awareness through bulletin board displays and competitions. They are keen to plant a tree for the graduating class of 2023!

Fulford Academy built a composter to divert food waste from the landfill.

North Grenville District High School revitalized their courtyard space! They removed invasive weeds and planted native pollinators. To encourage others to connect with nature, they added some comfortable seating!

registration is closed - all full!
(unless you have prior permission)

Instructions – please sign up as a team of 4 to 6 participants plus a facilitator (ex. A teacher who helps with the Eco-Club), or as an independent.

Name of School or Interest Group

Name of Teacher/Facilitator

Email Address of Teacher/Facilitator

Telephone of Teacher/Facilitator

First Student / Participant

Name

Pronouns (optional)

Grade

Email Address

Dietary Restrictions

Next Student / Participant

Name

Pronouns (optional)

Grade

Email Address

Dietary Restrictions

Next Student / Participant

Name

Pronouns (optional)

Grade

Email Address

Dietary Restrictions

Next Student / Participant

Name

Pronouns (optional)

Grade

Email Address

Dietary Restrictions

Next Student / Participant

Name

Pronouns (optional)

Grade

Email Address

Dietary Restrictions

Next Student / Participant

Name

Pronouns (optional)

Grade

Email Address

Dietary Restrictions

Interested in Volunteering?

YCAS is run BY youth FOR youth. Interested in volunteering (and racking up some volunteer hours)?

Thank you 2023 Sponsors

Show your support for youth and the environment as a sponsor of the next Youth Climate Action Summit. Download our Sponsorship Package for more information.

Wild Center & The Youth Climate Summit

This Youth Climate Summit is based on a model started by The Wild Center’s Youth Climate Program. The Wild Center’s Youth Climate Program works globally to convene and empower young people to implement climate action plans in their schools and communities through Youth Climate Summits.

For more information on The Wild Center’s Youth Climate Program, visit

Youth Climate Action Summit

Tuesday, November 14, 2023
9 am to 4 pm
North Grenville Municipal Centre
Kemptville ON
REGISTRATION NOW CLOSED - EVENT IS FULL!