Applications for a free leadership-training program are now open for 25 young leaders interested in local environmental issues.
The program — titled Take Back the Wild — will be run this summer out of Johnson’s Landing from June 5-7 and was created by the Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society’s B.C. Chapter (CPAWS-BC).
“The youth that we use in this context are aged 18-30 and include a variety of people who are interested in learning more about campaigning or have concerns or want to help our environment but don’t know what to do next,” said community engagement coordinator Kate MacMillan.
During the weekend, participants will gain practical skills in taking on conservation projects.
“The workshop we host gives participants an introduction and basic understanding into how to actually do a campaign in B.C.,” said MacMillan. “We talk about government relations, fundraising, media communications and working with First Nations and how to tell your story. These are important, basic skills that you need.”
MacMillan added, “A lot of the participants who attend the summit say, ‘I really care about this, but I don’t know what to do.’ They have that passion but they don’t know how to take those next steps.”
After receiving their training, participants will also go on to partner with local community groups or start their own local conservation project.
“We are reaching out to local groups in the Kootenays and Wildsight is one we’re working with on this summit. Between them and ourselves we’ll have a couple projects for youth to volunteer with if they don’t start their own project,” said MacMillan.
This will be the fifth summit that CPAWS-BC has hosted since 2012 and the plan is to continue taking that program across the province.
“What’s really important about this program is that we hope to keep moving it across the province so we can create pockets of these young leaders. There are so many young people who are passionate, skilled, and dedicated to what’s going on. By having this summit move around, we are creating localized communities, so hopefully participants in the Kootenays will create strong relationships amongst one another. But they’ll also be part of the bigger Take Back the Wild family and they’ll be able to make connections with other participants from across the province,” said MacMillan.
The deadline to apply is May 5 at 5 p.m. (PST). Application forms are available on the website www.cpawsbc.org/campaigns/take-back-the-wild or on Facebook at www.facebook.com/events/358637377664891