The 2023/2024 school year is wrapping up, and what a fantastic year it has been! As the summer break approaches, we’ve been reminiscing about all the wonderful things we’ve had the opportunity to be involved with this year. From educational resource development to workshop delivery, our staff and volunteers have put their hearts and souls into the work we do here.
BTCEA in the Classroom
Year after year we see more engagement and interest in Student Leadership for Change (SLC), our ever-growing suite of eco-social learning materials from both teachers and student changemakers. To date over 1817 teachers have accessed and used our Student Leadership for Change (SLC) Action Packs and additional resources which support student learning regarding sustainability, social justice, taking action and critical thinking!
Our Climate Action, Resilience, and Emotions program (CARE) reached 855 students and 33 educators through 34 2-part workshops in school districts across the Thompson Okanagan region! In addition, BTCEA in collaboration with the UBC Climate Hub, reached 514 students in Metro Vancouver through the Youth Climate Ambassador Program (YCAP), the program CARE was modeled after! Considering that 78% of Canadian youth report that climate change impacts their overall mental health, according to a 2023 study, it is vital to foster resilience among our students. This program aims to educate young people on the realities of climate change while providing a safe space and resources to empower them to manage their climate emotions.
The BTCEA Water is Life program (WIL) builds on students’ knowledge of climate change and inspires them to take action throughout and beyond the workshop timeline. With an emphasis on systemic change, Indigenous perspectives, and the connection of water to life and climate, this workshop is a great launch pad for exploring related themes! This school year, 772 students and 42 educators took part in the WIL program through a total of 32 sets of workshops.
In addition to our work directly with students, we’ve held ten Pro-D workshops reaching over 140 educators about climate education and other important eco-social topics.
This year, we also established our Action Network, which aims to connect educators and youth passionate about change from across the province through an interactive map! If you’ve been part of any of our aforementioned programs, then you’re already part of this inspiring community. Check out the inspiring stories of action shared by youth and teachers in our network!
Youth For Climate Justice (Y4CJ) is our unique program that provides mentorship, workshops, and resources for young leaders working to further climate justice in the Metro Vancouver region. This academic year, over 50 youth took part in Y4CJ. Some highlights from the team projects include:
- Youth from 5 different schools collaborated to deliver 4 Climate Justice Professional Development workshops to over 60 teachers across Metro Vancouver. The student-run workshops encouraged teachers to discuss climate justice in their classrooms and gave them the tools to begin.
- Youth from Byng and Brockton designed and delivered a series of workshops on climate change and individual and collective action. Together, they reached over 140 youth.
- Youth from Templeton and Byng tackled fast fashion by conducting school-wide clothing swaps and drives. They donated additional clothes to local consignment stores, raising money for women in need.
We wish you all a restful and enjoyable summer break! Thanks for helping transform BC’s education system into something more sustainable, just, and fulfilling. We look forward to next year and hope to stay connected with you all! BTCEA is able to continue our work empowering students and youth through our kind donors. Please donate today!
Warmly,
Anna Tokunaga (she/her)
Executive Directors