High school students think globally but act locally to help fight climate change
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Students from Ecole Ste. Famille planted trees at Levi Creek in Mississauga at the launch of the Conservation Youth Corps Program. |
June 1, 2007 - Conservation Youth Corps (CYC) is a new program of Credit Valley Conservation (CVC) for high school students living or going to school in the Credit River watershed and surrounding area. Each week during the summer, 3 crews of 5 students will collectively plant 10,000 trees throughout the watershed. These trees will help combat climate change as they soak up carbon dioxide as well as improve air quality, protect our water, and harbour wildlife.
The youth in our watershed now have an opportunity to really get involved in the fight against climate change through the enhancement of our natural environment. As such, CVC is looking for enthusiastic, fit students to be part of CYC this summer as we offer a hands-on, safe, volunteer, learning experience, in a structured setting.
Thinking Globally but acting Locally. Students will gain a varied work and “Eco” experience to expand their understanding of the natural world and to help provide them with the tools to be the Green Leaders of Tomorrow. Before they’re finished the program, they will know that there are actions that they can take to help sustain our environment.
Participants in the Youth Corps program will get outside, meet new friends and can get their volunteer community hours all while making positive environmental changes across the watershed, often in their own local communities. This new program will see students grow, improve in their personal development, job and life skills, and provide training in natural resource stewardship.
“By planting trees students demonstrate that they can each play a personal role in helping to protect our watersheds, improve air quality and reduce greenhouse gases,” said Pat Mullin, CVC Chair and Mississauga Councillor. “Trees release oxygen, remove carbon, help to prevent soil erosion, provide habitat for animals, and filter the air and water– all things that can help reduce the impacts of climate change,” she added.
Students will also be a part of other conservation projects, work along side professional and technical staff from CVC and our partner organizations. They will learn about many things like forest management, ecosystem monitoring, and the use of specialized equipment like Global Positioning Systems (GPS) on actual CVC project sites throughout the Credit River watershed.
CYC stresses environmental education. Our staff, community groups and other agencies will help provide the Youth Corps with ongoing learning opportunities. They can expect to learn about species identification (trees, shrubs, fish, amphibians, and wild flowers), our local fishery, forest inventory and other management techniques, wetland monitoring and habitat improvement. Whether they become future conservationists or captains of industry, their knowledge and experience will help inform the decisions these students make and the future they build.
Conservation Authorities are a provincial/ municipal partnership. The CVC was established by an Act of the province in 1954 with a mandate to protect all natural resources other than minerals in the area drained by the Credit River. We have been working for over 50 years with our partner municipalities and stakeholders to protect and enhance the natural environment of the Credit River Watershed for present and future generations.
MEDIA CONTACT:
Bernadette Fernandez,
Communications Specialist
905-670-1615 ext 240 |
