The Municipality of North Cowichan has long recognized the importance of educating youth on environmental matters. Fostering respect and appreciation for our natural world is a major focus for us each year. Our Environmental Education Program was established in 2000 in order to encourage youth to take steps to mitigate human environmental impacts. Each year an Environmental Student is hired to create and implement a 50-60 minute workshop that is presented to students in local elementary schools. These workshops align with provincially prescribed learning outcomes and provide opportunities for students to participate in hands-on activities that complement their regular school curriculum. In its 13^th year, this program has focused on topics ranging from water conservation and climate change to invasive species and food security. The Municipality of North Cowichan firmly believes that increasing youth awareness of environmental issues is essential to all of our futures. We hope that, through our Environmental Education Program, we are helping to generate young environmental stewards within our community.

This year our Environmental Education Program focused on waste management. Our current Environmental Student, Fiona Dalrymple, delivered workshops at 15 local schools to over 1800 students. Students worked through hands-on, problem-solving activities that helped to reveal the secrets behind our waste disposal systems. Activities included a garbage, compost and recycling sorting race, interesting discussions about what each student can do to reduce his or her “wasteline,” and photographic puzzles that enabled students to think critically about where their waste goes once it leaves their homes. 

In order to encourage students to continue thinking about ways they can contribute to improving their natural environment, we hold our Friends of the Environment Poster Contest Program each year. Students who participate in our Environmental Education Program have the opportunity to demonstrate how they will reduce their environmental impact through the creation of posters. This year another component was added to the contest: students were invited to create items made from recycled materials. Over 160 projects were received which made choosing winners very challenging; however, 13 winners were selected based on their originality and how well they communicated their waste reducing ideas. Contest winners came to North Cowichan’s Municipal Hall for the Prize Ceremony on July 4, where they met Mayor Lefebure and Council, and received their prize packages containing goodies from generous local businesses.

Emily Cherneff

Madisyn Styba