Spring 2025 Showcase of Youth Endeavors
Youth Conservation Projects Shine in 2025
In the spirit of fostering a sustainable future, several remarkable youth projects have been spotlighted this year, each making significant strides in bridging the gap between people and nature.
Jacob's Wetland Edu-Kits
Jacob's project, a part of the Ocean Bridge initiative, has created nearly 150 Wetland Edu-Kits. These educational resources are now being distributed to schools and libraries in Ajax, aiming to reconnect youth with Ontario's wetlands through hands-on learning. The kits teach local wildlife ecology, encouraging young people to get outside and take action in conserving their environment.
Kit's Kelp Forest Restoration
Kit's innovative project in Nova Scotia is restoring the province's disappearing kelp forests using a blend of science and art. By crafting ceramic vessels from wild clay to serve as kelp-growing substrates, Kit's work contributes directly to carbon sequestration and marine restoration efforts.
Stephanie's Planetary Health Initiative
Stephanie's project seeks to embed planetary health into clinical thinking and build a resilient, sustainability-minded medical community. In addition to organizing shoreline cleanups paired with mindfulness, eco-grief workshops, and planetary health education, Stephanie's initiative also pairs mental health and ocean conservation, highlighting the interconnectedness of our health and the health of our planet.
Ethan's Mi'kmaq Knowledge Preservation
Ethan's project, Mijipjewey Wejiaq Apaqtuk, was launched with the support of Eco-Action Accelerator. Ethan is preserving Mi'kmaq knowledge and heritage through a digital cookbook, offering a unique opportunity for the preservation and sharing of traditional recipes and stories.
Barbara's Plants Guide Us
Barbara's project, Plants Guide Us, has hosted workshops for 80 participants and grown an engaged online community. Strengthening connections to land, culture, and community for BIPOC and diasporic participants, Barbara's project is a testament to the power of fostering connections to the natural world and one another.
Eric's Seaweed Chronicles
Eric's film, Seaweed Chronicles, dives into seaforestation and the power of food to connect people. The 25-minute documentary explores the cultural, culinary, and ecological potential of seaweed in BC, spotlighting kelp farmers, harvesters, chefs, and coastal communities.
Paola's Interactive Shoreline Cleanup Map
As part of her Ocean Bridge project, Paola is designing an interactive Shoreline Cleanup map. This innovative tool will further facilitate community engagement in conservation efforts and provide valuable data for ongoing research and monitoring.
Supporting Emerging Aboriginal Stewards (SEAS) Initiative
The SEAS Initiative, a key youth program involved in conservation projects within Indigenous communities, is a collaborative program between First Nation partners and Nature United. By integrating traditional Indigenous knowledge with Western science, the SEAS Initiative engages, prepares, and empowers Indigenous youth as future stewards of their lands and waters.
For those interested in getting involved with the SEAS Initiative or other youth conservation programs, it is recommended to visit the respective websites for application details and contact program administrators. Other notable youth conservation programs in Canada include Parks Canada's student and youth employment programs and the Community Conservation Action Program (CCAP) by Wildlife Habitat Canada.
In the online education realm, Stephanie's Planetary Health Initiative integrates planetary health into clinical thinking to create a sustainability-minded medical community, offering workshops, mindfulness sessions, and eco-grief workshops, as well as organizing shoreline cleanups.
In BC, Eric's Seaweed Chronicles is an online-education documentary that explores the cultural, culinary, and ecological potential of seaweed, focusing on kelp farmers, harvesters, chefs, and coastal communities.
The Supporting Emerging Aboriginal Stewards (SEAS) Initiative brings together First Nation partners and Nature United to empower Indigenous youth as future stewards of their lands and waters, blending traditional Indigenous knowledge with Western science.
