Youth Action Center - Carrefour Jeunesse

Ever done something nice for someone else? Ever been considerate of the environment? If you answered yes to one or both those questions then you have demonstrated an action that moved from me to we.

The term me to we was coined by Free the Children, the world’s largest network of children helping children through education. Free the Children is a charitable organization that works to free children of poverty and exploitation and empower youth to stand up for equity and sustainability. Their goal is to bring education to every child and empower youth to move from me to we everyday, everywhere. “The Me to We” philosophy is about improving our lives and our world by reaching out to others. It involves focusing less on “me” and more on “we”—our communities, our nation and our world.

Ever wanted to truly do something that helped improve the lives of those less fortunate? Then don’t hesitate sign up for Free the Children’s “Year of We” and start taking action to better our world and ourselves.

The 11th Hour is the last moment when change is possible. Leonardo DiCaprio recently produced and narrated this new film on the environmental crisis facing humankind and the Earth. The 11th Hour features over 50 inspiring experts from all walks of life and explores how we’ve arrived at this moment -- how we live, how we impact the earth’s ecosystems, and offers answers to the question, “what can we do?”. See the trailer at: www.youtube.com/watch?v=7IBG2V98IBY

Whether you've seen the movie or not yet, check out www.11thhouraction.com, a great resource for anyone wanting to learn about and take action to address climate change and the other major ecological crises we currently face. You can browse Youtube videos, Leonardo's myspace site, search for a wide range of action ideas, learn from the experts and get interactively inspired by viewing and adding your own project to a worldwide map of tons of community groups taking action around the world!

If you do want to see or share the movie, you can also request a film screening in your town. Many communities and organizations are bringing the film to their town and hosting question and answer sessions after the film for stimulating discussions. You can even raise funds for your own group or project while raising awareness at the same time.

If that doesn't convince you, the website also supports action through awesome contests, such as the David Orr Challenge! Prizes total up to $100,000 are available for colleges and universities that create plans by which their institution would become climate neutral through advanced energy efficiency, switching from fossil fuels to renewable energy, smarter design of transportation and landscape, changes in use of materials and water, and behaviour changes.

The film and the website shows how to create a radically new and exciting future in which humanity seeks not to dominate the earth's life systems, but to mimic them and coexist. “The 11th Hour" calls for a future now within our grasp that is both sustainable and healthier for everyone.

A Ducks Unlimited Intern’s Story

Abi Max, a high school student from Timiskaming District Secondary School (TDSS) in New Liskeard, Ontario, was one of the newest student interns hired through Green Street as part of the Ducks Unlimited Canada Wetland Centre of Excellence Program
(see www.ducks.ca/resource/teachers/
classroom/index.html).

This is how she got there in her own words………

My name is Abi Max. Ever since I was a young girl I have expressed an irrepressible love for the outdoors and the study of living things. I would rather have run after frogs in the mud and read about life in the Serengeti than play with dolls and nothing has changed since I’ve gotten older.
I entered the TERRA course at TDSS in 2006, which was perhaps the most fundamental element that helped me develop a true fascination and interest in the world of ecology, especially wetland ecology. TERRA stands for Teaching Ecological Responsibility Recreation and Adventure and you can learn more about it at www.dsb1.edu.on.ca/tdssterra/
welcome_to_terra.htm.

I have also been able to gain general experience in the conservation field by accompanying Mr. Peter Gilboe of the Ministry of Natural Resources in his field work, where I got to experience a day in the life of a conservation officer. Now, next July my ambitions are taking me to the coasts of Costa Rica, where I will travel with other students through a guided tour of mystical rainforests, sea turtle conservation stations, banana plantations, and much more. It is my goal to broaden my perspective and to someday become a conservation officer or biologist.

I meet all the qualifications for this wetland internship. Due to my TERRA background and my current position as a JEDI in the program, I am very familiar with the Ducks Unlimited Hilliardton Marsh where our wetland studies take place north of New Liskeard. My bird banding skills are good and continue to improve, while I have been deemed the seasoned aquatic insect instructor for the many school groups who come to the marsh. I have taught a variety of children from different schools and grade levels about the marsh and the importance of our conservation efforts there.

Although simply talking about the marsh is an important way of passing on the message, experiencing it up close and personal presents a more interactive and fun way of learning. Whether a child gets wet and muddy trying to catch tadpoles or a parent gets scratched by a pecking chick-a-dee, they will always remember their visit to the marsh. These are the kinds of lasting impressions that can allow the marsh and its inhabitants to be recognized for their ecological importance. I believe this realization can bring us closer to our conservation goals at the marsh.

This internship is a true opportunity to do something great for the marsh and for the people of the Tri-towns area. I am honored to represent this program.

Learn more about summer internships

Check out the Youth Action Centre’s summer internship stories on our site here...

It's that time of year when the Sierra Youth Coalition holds its annual regional Sustainable Campuses conferences across the country. The Sustainable Campuses project aims to empower students to lead initiatives on their campuses toward greater social, ecological and economic sustainability through campus operations, curricula and community member behaviour. Here is your opportunity to get connected, inspired, and build skills with others working to assess and improve their school's level of ecological and social well-being. Register today! For more info, check out: www.syc-cjs.org/sustainable.

All across Canada, young people are actively engaged in voluntary activities, benefiting their own communities and taking responsibility for the future of our environment. Toyota Canada Inc. and Earth Day Canada want to recognizing and rewarding these students (YOU!) as they embark upon their post secondary studies.

What is it?
The Toyota Earth Day Scholarship Program is again offering 15 scholarships of $5000 each to graduating high school students who are entering their first year of college or university. Awards will be granted in five geographic areas:

One national winner, chosen from the 15 regional scholarship winners will be further presented with the Outstanding Environmental Achievement Award and a Panasonic notebook computer at the National Awards Ceremony.

Environmental scientists are not the only people who care about the environment. So, applications from environmentally active students who are considering any program of study are encouraged – your passion is what really matters. Your time spent volunteering, working in the community, bringing in new ideas about the environment and sustainability – these are all so important! Past scholarship recipients have pursued fields of study including engineering, fine arts, medicine, and political science.

Teachers and students… are you looking for ways to get your classmates or local youth involved in community projects and activism? Look no further than the Green Street Guide to Authentic Youth Engagement. Find tips to help you with:

If you have any suggestions of what should be included in next month's newsletter, would like to send an article that you have found about water, or would like to send comments or feedback, please e-mail info@safewater.org.

The Youth Engagement Coordinator for WWF-Canada is starting up a program in British Columbia called Young Leaders for a Living Planet.The group is focusing their energy on two major events this year.

Number One
The Earth Flotilla, an eco-learningadventure involving 40 highly motivated youth (ages 13-17) from the Lower-Mainland and Vancouver Island. Bringing together individuals from diverse backgrounds, there will be bursaries available to ensure that youth are not excluded if you can’t afford the program. This will be a 6-day event taking place over spring break 2008 (March 16 - 21), and the youth who participate will get the opportunity to become environmental leaders in their communities.

Number Two
A Footprint Challenge, where those youths that took part in the Flotilla, and other youth who want to get involved arrange events around their communities to encourage others to reduce their environmental impact. This will be a great way for individuals to really get involved in their schools & communities, and to get high-school students to evaluate their consumption and to make a difference in their communities.

More info
Check out the website at www.wwf.ca/youth for more information.