Youth for Climate Change Action Forum
Assiniboine Park + Zoo |Winnipeg, Manitoba | April 14 – 16, 2016
Grades 9-11

Let us be good stewards of the Earth we inherited. All of us have to share the Earth’s fragile ecosystems and precious resources, and each of us has a role to play in preserving them. If we are to go on living together on this earth, we must all be responsible for it. — Kofi Anan

On April 14-16 2016, the Assiniboine Park Conservancy will host the inaugural Youth for Climate Change Action Forum at Assiniboine Park and Zoo. Over the course of three days, we will explore the complexities of climate change and empower participants to take meaningful action in their own schools and communities.

We are offering your school the opportunity to send a team of up to four Grade 9 – 11 students to attend the conference.  There will be no cost to your school or participants.*

Youth for Climate Change Action will bring together students from urban, rural and northern regions of the province. Through workshops, discussion forums, brainstorming sessions, and social interaction, participants will share their knowledge and understanding of climate change and the impact it is having on Manitoba – on our communities, environment, wildlife, culture and economy.

Climate change is relevant to every Manitoban, especially youth. Students will be encouraged to find common ground, focus on solutions, and share inspiration and ideas for effective climate change action projects they can implement at home, at school, and in their communities. At the end of the three day forum, each school team will present their action project plan. A preliminary forum schedule is attached for your information.

At the conclusion of the forum, schools will be encouraged to appoint a mentor for their team who will provide guidance and support as your students implement their action plan.  Students will be encouraged to share projects updates with other teams through social media.

At this time, we want to assess potential interest from your student body and support from the administration.

* Funding will cover the following for a team of up to 4 students plus 2 chaperones:

·         Forum registration for four students

·         Winnipeg hotel accommodation for April 14 and 15 (2 nights),

·         Meals (breakfast, lunch and dinner)

·         Bus travel within Winnipeg to/from any scheduled extracurricular forum activities.

·         We will also subsidize mileage costs for rural and northern schools Winnipeg for travel to and from the conference.  

If you are interested, please reply and we will forward a complete information package to you in the coming weeks. If I don’t hear from you, I will follow up by phone to discuss whether this opportunity is a good fit for your school and answer any questions you have.

Should you wish to contact me, I encourage you to call or email me at 204-927-6053 or [email protected]

Sincerely,

Karen Lind, Education Coordinator, Assiniboine Park Conservancy