Grade 9 Geography students from Centennial CVI, Guelph CVI, and John F. Ross CVI competed in the first-ever "Climate Showdown" at the University of Guelph Arboretum on December 17.
Hosted by the Community Environmental Leadership Program (CELP) and planned by Grade 10 CELP students and their teachers, the event included eight activity stations where groups got to identify native trees and species, learn about food waste, and send a message to a politician, among other things.
"I'm hoping that the students get a message of hope that they can do something and that they can certainly take action," CELP teacher Katie Gad told CTV Kitchener about the event.
Points were awarded to the teams by local celebrity judges during the activities for the chance to win one of three gift baskets.
Along with many climate-focused groups and organizations on-hand, such as the Guelph Tool Library and Seniors for Climate Action Now, Guelph MPP Mike Schreiner spoke to the students about the importance of the environment and what they are doing.
“I see a room full of young leaders,” Schreiner said. “Your ideas, your energy, your solutions, your vision for the future is so critically important.”
Grade 10 CELP students
The event was funded by the Youth Climate Action Grant from the City of Guelph.