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Climate Change Connection > Resources > Youth Conferences

Youth Conferences

YouthConference_smClimate Change Connection has provided tailor-made conferences for youth across Manitoba since 2004.

Youth Conferences on Climate Change have three objectives:

  • Educate participants about climate change science, impacts, and solutions
  • Motivate participants into taking action
  • Activate participants with the tools to successfully make change in their personal lives, schools, and communities.

Host a Youth Conference on Climate Change

Here is your chance to educate, motivate, and activate the students at your school to take action on climate change.

Fill out a Youth Conference on Climate Change Application Form.

It is easy and will have a lasting impact. Schools will be accepted first-come first-serve.

Why youth?

Our youth will inherit climate change. Although impacts are being felt now, more troubling effects are projected to occur in the next 50 -100 years.

What can youth expect? More severe weather events, the spread of disease, and water shortages, to name a few. Youth will inherit the outcomes of all our current decisions and actions to address climate change.

Finally, youth will inherit the habits and mindsets that led to climate change unless they understand how greenhouse gas emissions – individual and societal – are created, and how they can be reduced.

They need the information and skills to communicate their stand on climate change, as well as be a part of the solution, now and in the future.

What happens at the conference?

Susan_Youth_ConferenceYouth Conferences are day-long events. The day can be tailored to the schools wants and needs.

Here is an example of a successful conference:

  • During the morning, the participants hear from experts about climate change issues, impacts, and solutions. The morning also consists of interactive games and personal pledges.
  • During the afternoon, the students focus on skill building and action planning. The afternoon provides participants with lots of time to interact, work in groups, and learn how they can take action at home and in their schools.

Who should attend?

If the conference is at your school, you can decide the number of students and who is invited. Some schools like to select students to attend (one grade, class representatives, geography students, etc.) and others have provided the conference for the whole school.

Both ways work fine. Some sessions selected would require small group numbers but we can make anything work.

How much does the conference cost?

Most conferences will have minimal cost. Typically, lunches for partipants has been the largest cost. We like to provide a local, organic, fair-trade lunch to stick with the theme of the conference.

Climate Change Connection will share costs with host schools. In the past, the average cost to the school was 0$-$750.

Past Conferences

Here are the conferences we have held:

  • Seven Oaks MET School Youth Conference on Climate Change (Seven Oaks MET, Winnipeg, Manitoba) – May 11, 2016
  • Miles Macdonell Collegiate Youth Conference on Climate Change (Miles Macdonell Collegiate, Winnipeg, Manitoba) April 27, 2016
  • John Taylor Collegiate Youth Conference on Climate Change (John Taylor Collegiate, Winnipeg, Manitoba) – April 19, 2016
  • Goose Lake High School Youth Conference on Climate Change (Roblin, Manitoba) – November 25, 2014
  • Murdock Mackay Collegiate Youth Conference on Climate Change (Murdock Mackay Collegiate, Winnipeg, Manitoba) – May 1, 2014
  • Balmoral Hall Youth Conference on Climate Change (Balmoral Hall, Winnipeg, MB) – Jan 15, 2014
  • Warren Youth Conference on Climate Change (Warren Collegiate , Warren, MB) – Dec 6, 2013
  • Hamiota Youth Conference on Climate Change (Hamiota Collegiate, Hamiota, MB)- Oct 2, 2013
  • St. John’s Ravenscourt Grade 9 Conference (St. John’s Ravenscourt, Winnipeg, MB) – May 14, 2013
  • Sisler Youth Sustainability Conference (Sisler High School, Winnipeg, MB) – April 24, 2013
  • Carman Youth Conference on Climate Change (Carman Collegiate, Carman, MB) – February 28th, 2013
  • GreenSpace (University of Winnipeg, Winnipeg, MB) – November 30th, 2012
  • Grant Park Youth Conference (Grant Park High School, Winnipeg, MB) – April 27, 2011
  • Daniel McIntyre Youth Conference (Daniel McIntyre High School) – April 20, 2011
  • Tec Voc Youth Conference (Tec Voc High School, Winnipeg, MB) – April 4, 2011
  • Elie Youth Conference (St Paul’s High School, Elie, MB) – March 24, 2011
  • Maples Youth Conference (Maples Collegiate High School) – January 14, 2011
  • Elmwood Youth Conference (Elmwood High School) – December 2, 2010
  • Sisler Youth Conference (Sisler High School) – April 22, 2010
  • Arctic Climate Change Youth Forum (Winnipeg) – February 5th, 2010
  • North Central Manitoba (Onanole) Youth Climate Change and Leadership Conference – September 25, 2009
  • Learning for a Sustainable Future Conference (Sisler High School) – April 30, 2009
  • South Central Manitoba (Manitou) Youth Conference on Climate Change – April 13, 2009
  • University of Winnipeg Take Action on Climate Change – Dec 12, 2008
  • University of Winnipeg Youth Conference on Climate Change – Dec 5, 2008
  • Western Manitoba (Neepawa) Youth Conference on Climate Change – Mar 13, 2008
  • St.James Assiniboine, Pembina Trails, & Louis Riel School Divisions – Dec 7, 2007
  • River East Transcona, Seven Oaks, & Winnipeg School Divisions – Nov 30, 2007
  • Eastern Manitoba (Beausejour) Youth Conference on Climate Change – Mar 9, 2007
  • University of Winnipeg Youth Conference on Climate Change – Dec 15, 2006
  • Western Manitoba Youth Declaration on Climate Change – Feb 24, 2006
  • Pembina Valley Youth Declaration on Climate Change – Feb 10, 2006
  • Winnipeg Youth contribute to COP 11/MOP 1 – Nov 25, 2005

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