Environmental Studies Welcomes High School Students to "Change Your World"

TORONTO, April 12, 2005 -- York Universities Faculty of Environmental Studies (FES) hosted its third annual "Change Your World Conference" on April 5th to promote and celebrate environmental and social action in schools and communities across the GTA and Ontario.

Close to 400 students, representing 8 school boards and over 30 high schools, took part in a wide range of interactive workshops that engaged, inspired and equipped them to take action on environmental and social issues, as well as to showcase the projects that they are currently working on in their schools and communities. Teachers also took part in an Ontario EcoSchools presentation sharing environmental curriculum that can be used in the classroom.

After an address from York University President Lorna Marsden welcoming students to the environmentally sustainable campus at York. FES Dean Joni Seager encouraged everyone to explore this interdisciplinary day which would connect social, political and economic issues with action. FES sessional faculty member Robin Cavanaugh then opened the day with a First Nations smudging ceremony giving thanks and preparing participants for the learning that was to take place.

Workshops for all…

For the rest of the day students participated in a diverse scope of interactive workshops on themes ranging from climate change to eliminating hunger and from solar power to the power of storytelling for social action.

Workshops were presented by groups such as:

• City of Toronto Clean Air Partnership
• The Daily Bread Food Bank
• Earth Day Canada
• Faculty of Environmental Studies
• Green Communities Association
• Greenpeace Canada
• hungry4change
• Jane Goodall Institute
• The Ontario Science Centre
• Operation Undercover
• Sierra Youth Coalition
• TakingITGlobal
• Toronto Regional Conservation Authority
• Toronto Regional Conservation Authority - Kortright Centre
• Youth Environmental Network

School Boards Attending included:

• Thames Valley District School Board (TVDSB)
  
• Waterloo District Regional School Board (WDRSB)
  
• York Region District School Board (YRDSB)
  
• Toronto District School Board (TDSB)
  
• Durham Region District School Board (DRDSB)
  
• Dufferin-Peel Catholic District School Board (DPCDSB)
  
• Halton Catholic District School Board (HCDSB)
  
• Toronto Catholic District School Board (TCDSB)
   

Among the highlights for those attending was 'SUSTAIN: The Life-Sized Board Game' designed by FES graduate student Nadine Gudz. This game is a demonstration of the challenge of maintaining an ecologically, socially and economically sustainable community. "This game was a great experience for exploring issues. I would love to use this board game in my classroom," said Eva Bencze, Teacher and Environmental Club advisor at Thornlea Secondary School. Also facilitated by an FES student was ‘Let your Voice be Heard: Storytelling Tools for Student Activism’ with Elanor Waslander, which was met with enthusiasm. "It was really fun, I learned how to narrate and get points across to an audience," commented one student.

The "Don't Just Protest, Backcast!" workshop lead by Amanda Montgomery and Adela Laczynski.

In another workshop students were encouraged by FES students Amanda Montgomery and Adela Laczynski ‘Don’t Just Protest, Backcast!’ By envisioning the future that they want to see and then, working backwards, participants identified changes they need to make in themselves, their schools and communities students. One high school student said, "I made lots of progress with new ideas I never thought of before. We all need to think of the future and work forward with a positive view."

In helping students think ahead Salina Abji, Manager of Career Services for students at FES presented ‘Not Just Another Day Job: Careers in Environmental and Social Action,’ where students learned about real life success stories of FES Graduates. Students then created a plan for starting their own environmental business or organization.

Workshops done by other organizations were also well received. The Ontario Science Centre ran the ‘Challenge Zone’ program offering participants the opportunity to become part of a collaborative, risk-taking team of problem-solvers to devise a shelter for refugee camps from recycled materials.

The Green Communities Association workshop addressing tackling climate change inspiring a student from Thornlea Secondary School to come up with new ways to take action. As she commented, "I got great ideas, such as ways to calculate the energy costs used in schools, and the difference it would make to turn off the lights when they are not needed." The Sierra Youth Coalition addressing globalization and it effects gave another student from Ingersol high school ideas for action saying, "I am going to take what I learned from the Sierra Youth Coalition and petition my teachers to change how their pension funds are invested in tobacco companies; teachers need to make good choices about this."

The Daily Bread Food Bank presentation motivated a third student from Thornlea Secondary School to comment, "We got to go in depth and really know about the issues. We know about food banks, but this conference helps us to see what to do beyond food banks, and why the problem of people not having sustainable food sources happens in the first place." The organization hungy4change also imparted organizing skills for youth, guiding students in how to put on a conference of their own, or take on an issue.

Ecoschools inspire Teachers

Ontario EcoSchools, a program designed to help school boards and schools play their part in living more sustainably, demonstrated educational materials for teachers. After the presentation David Reid, Teacher at Assumption High School commented, "I got interesting and inspiring ideas on ways to incorporate environmental ideas into my English curriculum. It is not thought of as an obvious subject for environmentalism, but it is a good way to explore environmental issues." Similarly, Eva Bencze, Teacher at Thornlea Secondary School said, "I found many suggestions here today that can be integrated into school curriculum and everyday life so we can see environmentalism as part of life, which is easily adopted and not more work to be done. It was uplifting to be with people focused on positive solutions for change and not hear doom and gloom about the situation of our environment."

Student Rave Reviews

"There needs to be workshops like this happening all over the country. I wish my whole school could have come today," student, Ingersol High School

"The 'Change your World' conference was well organized with workshops that were very informative," student, Thornlea Secondary School

"It is interesting that this conference is called ‘Change your World.’ There are so many things to do, but we don’t always know what to do. I liked getting to know there are so many environmental organizations and committees. It is important that we know how to get involved. ‘Change your World’ gives us a place to start," student, Thornlea Secondary School

"I learned how simple it can be with new facts," student, North Middlesex High School.

"Today was eye opening; I learned things I did not know," student, Ingersol High School

Taking Environmental Action Home…

The Change Your World Conference inspired and motivated youth to get involved and make a difference. After the conference, 90% of attending students said they were inspired with creative ideas to initiate environmental and social justice projects in their schools and communities.

Thanks to FES staff members Lily Piccone and Greg Wilson who organized the day, with the assistance of Pat Laceby and Allison Goodings!