2023 Youth Summit for Mother Earth

Held in September each year since 2010, the Youth Summit engages young leaders from dozens of communities across the province.

Our annual Youth Summit brings together young people aged 14–20 for a weekend of nature exploration, environmental learning and outdoor fun.

For the 2023 Youth Summit, Ontario Nature, the Indigenous Environmental Institute at Trent University, Plenty Canada, and Walpole Island Land Trust will be partnering with our leaders on the Youth Council and Youth Circle for Mother Earth’s Coordinating Circle to offer a unique, cross-cultural event for youth across Ontario.

Weekend Details

When: September 22–24, 2023
Where: Camp Wahanowin, on the traditional territory of the Anishinaabe, Ojibwe, Odawa and the Pottawatomi Nations, collectively known as the Three Fires Confederacy. The Chippewas of the Rama Mnjikaning First Nation have played an integral role in shaping and strengthening the surrounding community. Camp Wahanowin is located on what is now known as Longford Mills, just north of Orillia, Ontario.
Who: 90 youth (aged 14–20) from across Ontario

This year, as we transition back into in-person programming, we are especially enthusiastic about delivering an action-packed weekend of hands-on, outdoor education and land-based learning opportunities alongside our incredible partners. Ontario Nature’s COVID-19 Precautions for Events provides details on the prevention measures we will take in advance of and during the event. The Youth Summit for Mother Earth will be held in compliance with Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit’s COVID-19 measures at the time of the event.

Registration

SPONSORED YOUTH:  If you are being sponsored to attend the Youth Summit for the full cost of $450, please register here. You will be prompted for the password that Ontario Nature gave you.

SUBSIDIZED REGISTRATION: Youth who are not being sponsored to attend can register online at a subsidized rate of $250. Ontario Nature subsidizes the cost to limit barriers to attend. Please register here.

Subsidized registration will remain open until Tuesday, September 5 or until we reach capacity.

INTEREST FORM: If you are not being sponsored to attend and would like to request a sponsorship, please fill out the interest form here. A sponsorship of $450 covers the hard costs of a youth’s participation, including accommodations, meals, speakers, workshops, materials, event coordination, and additional costs associated with reducing barriers for youth participation (e.g., travel). Please be advised not all those who fill out this form are guaranteed a sponsorship.

Please contact Maya Davidson at mayad@ontarionature.org or 416-444-8419 (toll-free 1-800-440-2366) ext. 280 for inquiries about sponsorship or registration.

Thank you to our Nature Network members and other organizations.

Miigwetch – miigwech – nya:wen – hiy hiy – yaw^ko – nakurmiik – merci – thank you!*

*The above translations may differ from other Ojibwe, Kanien’kéha, Cree, Oneida and Inuktitut dialects, and reflect the languages shared with and spoken by members in the Youth Circle for Mother Earth’s Coordinating Circle and project partners.

Learn more about the Youth Summit and also find registration details here: https://ontarionature.org/events/youth-summit/