Youth Climate Action Summit
Tuesday, November 12, 2024
Kingston Frontenac Public Library
Kingston ON
Register in September, 2024
Tired of just hearing about climate change? Ready to do something about it?
Welcome to the Youth Climate Action Summit, or YCAS for short. An inspiring one-day summit exploring climate change and local climate action for youth, by youth!
Stay tuned for updates on YCAS 2025!
Connect, Discover, Create
What you can expect at our
Youth Climate Action Summit:
Connect
See the interactive map of November 2024 attendees HERE
Photo credit: Aquatarium
Discover
Learn about climate change and climate action during the keynote address, then choose 2 interactive workshops that interest you.
Create
Collaborate with your team to identify climate change related issues in your school or community. Be inspired by other youth and workshop speakers. Consider your own skills and interests. Choose a climate change related issue and create at Climate Action Plan to address it! Reach out to the YCAS community for support as you put your Plan into action!
Check out some Climate Action Plans that became Climate Action Realities →
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 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!
2024 Speakers
Keynote
Dan Hendry
Hope Through Action: The presentation culminates in a high-energy, solutions-based segment, spotlighting a wide range of strategies and innovations aimed at reducing greenhouse gases and paving the way for a sustainable future. "Hope Through Action" is more than a presentation— it's a call to action, encouraging our youth to harness their learning and creativity to make a tangible difference in the world around them.
Workshops
Hands-on learning opportunities with your fellow cliamte activists.
Jessica Kocur | Sustainable Kingston
Measuring Redefining "Success" Energy-efficiency expert Jessica will explore what it means to be successful in the context of climate change. This workshop ends with a Jeopardy-style game!
Deborah D'Amico | Senior Development Lead, FABN
Fun ways to fundraise: tips & tools for getting your eco-projects from idea to success Does your Eco-Club need $$$? Find out how to plan and design your fundraiser, and promote it to your school, friends and community. Bring your thinking cap!
Claire Beach | Certified Nature Therapy Guide and Mentor
How Nature Therapy fosters healthier, happier people + a more sustainable future Got a little eco-grief or climate anxiety going on? In this workshop you will practice spending mindful time in Nature to de-stress, and feel positive and connected.
Becky Lamb | Communications & Outreach Coordinator, FABN
Memes with a Message Silly joke or effective climate engagement tool? Make your own memes and explore how comedy and other tricks of the communications trade can help you boost your message.
Aric McBay | Author, Farmer, Organizer
This is the talk that I wish I had heard as a high-school activist: How to make a career in ecology and climate action as a farmer, author, organizer and video game developer.
Cathy Christie | Kingston Seed System Initiative (KASSI)
Be Local Hero: Learn How to Grow, Save and Share Local Seeds Join us for an interactive hands-on session to learn how you can help build local climate-resilient, sustainable food and seed systems by growing, saving and sharing local seeds. Bring your own seeds to share and swap. Seeds from the KASSI Living Seed Commons will be available.
Hal Cain | Cycle Kingston
Ready to Ride? Your Bike and You? It’s not “just like riding a bike” when it come to cycling safety. This talk will cover basic bicycle safety inspection and repairs, as well as things you need to know and do, for yourself as the rider, before you start pedaling. A roadworthy bicycle along with rider knowledge and skills helps keep cyclists safer and makes it more likely they continue using a bicycle as a sustainable form of transportation.
Joyce Hostyn & Joanne Whitfield | Little Forests Kingston
A City in a Forest- Building Connection and Relationship One Forest at a Time Climate change is a symptom of a larger problem, the disconnect between people and the Land. People long for connection. Reconnection arises out of being on and caring for the land. Planting Little Forests, Pocket Forests and Pocket Meadows is reconnection. Our vision is to transform Kingston into a nature-positive, equitable, City in a Forest. Using the Mik'maw concept of Etuaptmumk (Two-Eyed Seeing), we’ll see how we might make this possible. And together we’ll learn about some of our keystone species and discover the vital world of which they are the foundation.
Panelists
What does climate action look like after secondary school? Ask our panelists your questions about careers, volunteer opportunities and activism!
Sarah Beech | Assessment Biologist, Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry
What is it like working for the provincial government? What does the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry actually do? What does an intern do?
Abbie Miolée
Artist, activist, poet - perspectives on taking a gap year after secondary school. Abbie is involved with the Community-Supported Youth Organizing, Kingston Seed System Initiative and more!
Michael Dakin | Supervisor and Development Reviewer, Cataraqui Region Conservation Authority
What does a Conservation Authority do? What is it like to work there? Michael has over a decade of experience in a variety of different roles.
Dr. Kyla Tienhaara | Seniors for Climate Action Now
Find out more about what this busy climate action group does, and how to get involved. From a person who has spent her life working on climate action as a professor, researcher and activist!
Anne Fu | Sustainability Coordinator, AMS Queen's University
What does the Alma Mater Society at Queen's University do? What does climate action look like at Queen's?
The Youth Climate Action Summit takes place annually, across the FAB Region. We hope to see you in Cornwall this fall!
Climate Action Plans
Read through the Climate Action Plans completed to date and get inspiration for your own!
Interested in Volunteering?
Support the Youth Climate Action Summit!
Tru Earth's products are lightweight, plastic-free, eco-friendly essentials like laundry strips and dishwasher tabs.
Check it out, and remember to use the link below to place your order!
Thank you 2024 Sponsors
Show your support for youth and the environment as a sponsor of the next Youth Climate Action Summit. Contact Victoria Renner for sponsorship opportunities.
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
To learn more about the Youth Climate Action Summit and how to get involved, contact:
Victoria Renner, YCAS Program Manager
