Since 2017, younger folks throughout Canada have been demonstrating their management for nature via artistic, nature-based initiatives submitted to Nature Canada’s Younger Nature Leaders Grant. This 12 months, we’re celebrating the grant’s fifth 12 months working because of the eagerness and generosity of Ladies for Nature members and different funders. The Younger Nature Chief’s grant was created to empower, uplift and help younger folks seeking to implement a community-based challenge centered round nature and sustainability.
This Earth month, we’re celebrating six recipients of the Younger Nature Leaders Grant. We had been thrilled to see the variety of passionate younger folks keen to teach, interact and lead others in caring for nature. We look ahead to supporting them as they implement their nature initiatives over the course of this 12 months.
Congratulations to the 2022 Younger Nature Leaders Grant recipients who embrace:
Kehkashan Basu – Toronto, ON
Kehkashan will develop instructional workshops and public consciousness campaigns that can interact college students and the general public to guard the endangered Wooden Turtle.
“I believe as younger folks we have to step out of our consolation zones and take that additional step and stroll that additional mile to get the long run we wish. Defending the environment is not a selection, it’s a duty. So we should act now to realize a sustainable world.”
Ana Castillo – Grenville-sur-la-Rouge, QC
Ana plans to launch a seed-keeping program on the Younger Roots Farm’s summer time camp that can present marginalized youth the chance to find out about farming via hands-on studying and storytelling.
“Younger Roots Farm is an academic farm for inner-city youngsters, offering abilities and information for an inclusive and sustainable relationship to meals. Because of Nature Canada and Ladies for Nature this 12 months, I hope to broaden our seed-keeping information!”
Rachel Irwin – Hamilton, ON
Rachel plans to develop the outreach of the Toronto chapter of the Feminist Hen Membership by organizing birding occasions that promote variety in birding whereas making a protected area for conversations round social and environmental justice.
“The objective of those birding occasions shall be to create a protected area for brand spanking new birders and youth to attach with nature and their group whereas having necessary conversations round inclusivity, accessibility, local weather change, and the significance of advocacy within the outdoor.”
Nena Van de Wouwer – Bouctouche, NB
Nena will launch a Inexperienced Godparent program that engages group members to change into stewards for native nature areas and can embrace seashore clean-ups that upcycle the collected trash into artwork to lift consciousness about defending nature.
“I began the Inexperienced God Guardian Program to encourage folks to spend extra time in nature whereas concurrently giving again to it. For me, that’s the greatest feeling on the planet!”
This 12 months, we additionally honoured two superb champions for nature, Margaret Atwood and the late Graeme Gibson and have supplied grants of their identify to younger folks to honour their needs to encourage future nature ambassadors and protectors:
Margaret Atwood Younger Nature Chief Grant
Denise Miller – Six Nations of the Grand River Territory/Brantford, ON
Denise will develop the Revitalizing our Sustenance Challenge that works to deal with meals safety points throughout the Six Nations of the Grand River Territory and can embrace land and agricultural restoration work utilizing native vegetation.
“As a Haudenosaunee lady, once you restore the land, you restore your id and duty to Creation.”
Graeme Gibson Younger Nature Chief Grant
Kenzie McCallum – Halifax, NS
Kenzie will coordinate and lead a three-part outside program for college kids at native elementary faculties which can incorporate outside studying, local weather change discussions and an action-oriented service challenge.
“I hope to assist college students join with their surrounding environments in significant methods and empower them to really feel they will make a distinction by their actions within the battle in opposition to local weather change.”
You may also examine earlier winners and their nature-based group initiatives right here.
We wish to give a particular because of the Choice Committee that included each Ladies for Nature members and Younger Ladies for Nature. Thanks to Alana Norie, Dalal Hanna, Celeste Landon, Christine Leduc, Iman Berry, Jessica Yu, Kirsten Reid, Mathilde Papillon, and Nikki Paskar for volunteering time to overview all of the inspiring initiatives!
