Four Favourite Moments from the 2015 Youth Summit

Thanks to our Nature Network supporters, the 2015 Youth Summit for Biodiversity & Environmental Leadership was a huge success. We asked four Youth Council members to share their favourite moments from the weekend:

1.    Creating new friendships
“The moment that really stood out the most for me at the Youth Summit came at the very end of the weekend as I said goodbye to the friends I’d made over the past few action-filled days. It was as I hugged these new friends goodbye that I realized why I had enjoyed the summit so much – here I had found a community, bubbling with enthusiasm, where I felt I was completely accepted for exactly who I was.”
–    Emily, age 18 from Orillia

2.    Learning outdoors
“Although it’s hard to pick a favourite moment from the Youth Summit, a highlight for me would definitely be the “Walk on the Wild Side” workshop. I loved that it was outdoors and that we got to explore the area while learning about local wildlife in a fun and interactive way. I thoroughly enjoyed interacting with salamanders, a praying mantis, and a snake, among other cool animal species.”
–    Raluca, age 15 from Toronto

A walk on the wild side; Credit: Brendan Toews

3.    Gaining new skills
“In the Medicinal Plants of Ontario workshop, a First Nations elder took us on a walk to show us plants that can be used for medicinal purposes, and then we harvested some and made our own salve. It was a great experience learning how to make medicine out of common plants. During the Spotting Salamanders workshop, we went on a hike together, turning over rocks beside the path, finding over 30 salamanders! I really liked learning about how to find salamanders near my house and how to report them using the reptile & amphibian atlas app.”
–    Sarah, age 13 from Guelph

Medicinal Plants of Ontario; Credit: Brendan Toews

4.    Working as a team
“On our last night at Geneva Park, we played capture the flag and that moment probably stuck with me the most after the summit. I remember how when four of the teams teamed up against the fifth, we were able to dominate and take over because we had power in numbers. It made me realize that together, we were able to make change, no matter how small or large. We were stronger together, and even if we are young, we are able to make a difference.”
–    Arani, age 15 from Toronto

As 2015 winds down, planning is getting underway for next year’s Youth Summit. Save the date (Sept 23-25, 2016) and visit our website regularly to see what’s in the works for it.

Great Group Challenge; Credit: Brendan Toews

Sarah Hedges is Ontario Nature's Conservation and Education Coordinator. She oversees the Nature Guardians Youth Program and coordinates Ontario Nature’s biodiversity offsetting initiative.