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November 14 2024

How our Young Leaders in Conservation are Unifying to Advocate for Nature in BC

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How Our Young Leaders In Conservation Are Unifying To Advocate For Nature In BC

Reflecting on our 2024 Young Leaders in Conservation Summit

Nov. 18, 2024 – by Eden Luymes, Youth Engagement Coordinator

On a rainy November weekend, 19 youth from our Young Leaders in Conservation Program gathered at the Brew Creek Centre for our 2024 Summit. Under cedar fronds dripping with fresh rain, we gathered to learn about policy pathways to protect nature in BC, brainstorm and scheme creative campaign ideas, sip cozy beverages in the lodge, meet with and learn from local government representatives, and build community with like-minded, environmentally-conscious youth from across the province.

Take a walk through some of the many workshops, highlights, and learnings from this beautiful weekend with our Young Leaders.

Learning from Squamish and Lil’wat Culture

Our Summit took place on the unceded shared territory of the Sk̲wx̲u7mesh (Squamish) Nation and L̓il̓wat7úl (Lil’wat) Nation. We opened our weekend with a traditional welcome, beautiful songs, and a dance led by Shelby, a Cultural Ambassador from the Squamish Lil’wat Cultural Centre (SLCC). This was a wonderful way to ground ourselves in place and reflect on how we can work towards meaningful decolonization and support Indigenous leadership on the land.

We also had the incredible opportunity to visit the Squamish Lil’wat Cultural Centre in Whistler and learn more about Squamish and Lil’wat cultures and relationships to the land. I was particularly struck by the artistry and deep symbolism in the carving work, and the process for collecting, processing, and weaving wild mountain goat hair in Squamish tradition.

Visiting the Squamish Lil’wat Cultural Centre on the unceded shared territory of the Sk̲wx̲u7mesh (Squamish) Nation and L̓il̓wat7úl (Lil’wat) Nation. Photo by Hailey Boehnr

AK Saini from Organizing for Change presenting a campaign strategy session on “Organizing to Win.” Photo by Mike Crane Photography

Organizing to ‘Win’ for Nature

One of the goals of this Summit was to familiarize ourselves with local conservation policy issues, and identify ways we can lobby for more and better protected areas in BC. CPAWS-BC’s Research and Policy Coordinator Meg Bjordal and Marine Research Coordinator Debra Sintra presented on their policy research and campaign work. They identified what areas of terrestrial and marine conservation need additional effort so the young leaders can advocate for action.

This presentation was complemented by a campaign strategy session on “Organizing to Win” with AK Saini from Organizing for Change. We fleshed-out our campaigns by identifying decision-makers, power-holders, and potential points of intervention for our activism, lobbying, or policy recommendations. This exercise will help the young leaders develop their policy asks for MLAs by identifying where we can exert pressure, mobilize our efforts effectively, and actually “win” for nature.

Story-telling in Activism

This weekend, the Young Leaders learned that humans are a species of storytellers. As much as we love a good statistic, it’s important to build a narrative in our activism. We covered how to do this in a session with Sarah Doty from Capulet. We shared our conservation “encounter” – our origin story for our work on environmental issues. Our “encounters” included moments in childhood, learning about a species at risk, or a cultural connection to the land. We discussed the importance of not only conveying an “ask” in our messages to the government, but also a vision. We ended the session by brainstorming increasingly wild and hair-brained ideas to visually convey the importance of protecting 30% of lands and waters by 2030. Ideas ranged from murals of endangered species in the locations where they should be thriving, to a cake presented to the Premier…

Young Leaders discussing their 'encounter' during a session on building narrative in activism by Sarah Doty from Capulet. Photo by Mike Crane Photography

Exploring the property green houses at Brew Creek Centre where the food we enjoyed over the weekend was grown. Photo by Eden Luymes

Eating & Growing Sustainably

Our Summit took place at the beautiful Brew Creek Centre, where the food – catered by LC Catering – was particularly outstanding. LC Catering provided seasonal and local meals, and we had the opportunity to see where much of the food we were enjoying was grown – right on site at the property farm! Eli took us on a fascinating tour of fields, greenhouses, geodesic domes full of flowers, and an incredible aquaponics facility where koi fertilize the greenest lettuce I’ve ever seen. It was delicious and exciting to see how much gorgeous food can be locally and sustainably grown here, even in bleak November!

Mutual Inspiration with Elected Representatives

We had the incredible honour of welcoming Mayor of Whistler Jack Crompton, Mayor of Squamish Armand Hurford, and MP Patrick Weiler, Liberal Member of Parliament for West Vancouver—Sunshine Coast—Sea to Sky Country to our Summit. They spoke on a panel about how to effectively influence government, and provided detailed advice for young leaders and activists looking to effect change at the municipal, provincial, and federal level. It was encouraging to hear that governments are listening to young voices, and though more work needs to be done, we were mutually inspired by this session. After the panel, the Young Leaders were able to chat and informally connect with the panelists, sharing their thoughts and perspectives over coffee and snacks.

Mayor of Whistler Jack Crompton and MP Patrick Weiler speaking to the Young Leaders on a panel about effectively influencing government. Photo by Mike Crane Photography

Young Leaders connecting during a small group discussion at the Summit. Photo by Mike Crane Photography

Connecting Like-minded youth

Above all, we were all deeply inspired by one another. At times in this work, especially when you are starting out, it can feel like the work you are doing is isolated. The problems we face – biodiversity loss, climate crisis, extractive relationships to the land and colonial culture – are enormous; petrifying and daunting. The odds seem stacked against us. However, gathering together this weekend was a reminder that we are not alone in this work and this fight! I can work alongside and deeply trust the other young people who are making a difference. There is a lot of progress to be made, but I have greater peace of mind and encouragement knowing that these incredible young leaders are out there, with energy, clarity, and brilliance, working on these challenges too. When I think about how incredible they are, the once stacked odds seem to flip in our favour, and I begin to wonder how we wouldn’t succeed with such brilliant young leaders advocating for our planet.

Learn More about the Young Leaders in Conservation Program

This program is an opportunity for youth to connect with like-minded, passionate people who care for nature and wish to make meaningful connections, network with youth leaders and conservation experts across BC, get coaching for skills relating to conservation advocacy in BC, and co-create ways of catalyzing change. We know that by bridging a network of like-minded peers, we’ll have a stronger impact, together.

Learn more about how you can get involved in the program by visiting the Young Leaders in Conservation Program page or contacting Program Coordinator Eden Luymes at eden@cpawsbc.org.

January 27 2022

CPAWS-BC Young Leaders in Conservation Program (YLICP)

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CPAWS-BC Young Leaders in Conservation Program (YLICP)

Youth lead the fight for climate and for nature. We want and deserve to shape the world we will live in and save the planet we will inhabit.

Youth have the vision and passion to transform and heal our relationships with the earth and each other – but we need more opportunities to be heard. Young people are often excluded from accessing the resources, skills and opportunities to shape environmental policy. Too many feel that their voices and concerns are not being fully represented in Canadian political discussions and decision-making spaces.

That’s why we’re backing youth – the conservation movement recognizes the need to change course and leverage the knowledge, expertise, and lived experiences of community members on the frontlines of the nature emergency, especially those who are oppressed and disadvantaged.

About the program

The 2024 Young Leaders in Conservation Program (YLICP) provides youth with knowledge, skills and opportunities to advocate for conservation issues in BC.

Key topics include:

Advocacy and lobbying skills.
History of conservation in BC.
Indigenous-led conservation and knowledge.
Government, community and media relations.
Strategic campaign planning and management.
Radical self-care in the environmental movement.

Participants are also coached and supported.

Program structure

Delivered over six months (August 2024 – February 2025), the YLICP consists of the following:

Webinar Workshops: ~Six virtual webinar workshops over three months taking place on weekday evenings in Fall 2024.
Provincial Election Townhalls: in-person conservation and youth-focused election townhalls and candidate Q&As in strategic ridings ahead of the 2024 BC provincial election.
In-person Summit: A multi-day, in-person summit on the Traditional lands of the lək̓ʷəŋən (Lekwungen) People, known today as the Esquimalt and Songhees Nations (Victoria, BC).

The in-person Summit will consist of a Lobby Day with the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia, where participants will get training and the opportunity to speak with government officials about conservation. Accommodation, travel expenses, and meals are provided at no financial cost to participate.

Opportunities

Make meaningful connections with like-minded youth who care deeply about stewarding BC’s beautiful natural spaces.
Gain skills and knowledge to understand and advocate for conservation issues in BC.
Receive training and engage with Members of the Legislative Assembly (MLAs) and other government officials about conservation.
Participants will receive a certificate upon successful completion of the program.

Who should apply?

YLICP seeks young leaders—ages 18-30, who permanently reside in BC and are connected to environmental issues. Our goal is to bring a diverse group of young folks together to build meaningful connections and provide skills training.

CPAWS-BC believes that Indigenous, Black, and Racialized people of the Global Majority, people from working class backgrounds, women, people with disabilities, and 2SLGBTQIA+ communities must be centred in conservation. As such, we strongly encourage people with these identities or who are members of other oppressed communities to apply.

This program has room for up to 25 participants.

*Applicants must be a resident of BC and be between the ages of 18-30 when applying*

CPAWS-BC Young Leaders in Conservation Program (YLICP)

Photos by Adam Combs

Advisory Committee Members

Joanne Nellas

Joanne is committed to uplifting the voices of underrepresented groups through meaningful, inclusive and intentional engagement. She strives for an equitable and just city where all people feel empowered and equipped to lead positive changes in their communities. Joanne has a Masters in Community and Regional Planning from UBC with a concentrated focus on planning for equity-seeking communities, and a Bachelors in Environment from SFU. Merging her two passions and knowledge, Joanne feels most energized when working within the intersection of climate action and the needs and interests of marginalized communities. She has worked on engagement projects and research with various organizations on municipality-level climate justice, urban and rural Indigenous housing, homelessness action, equitable transportation, civic engagement for racialized groups, and more.

Brennan Strandberg-Salmon

Brennan is a researcher, project manager, and volunteer coordinator with a passion for youth-led climate justice advocacy and climate policy. Brennan works as a Policy Analyst for Environment and Climate Change Canada’s Policy Priorities Division. Outside of work, he co-leads the youth Climate Change Branch of the BC Council for International Cooperation, which empowers young people to build skills for climate careers and advocate for equitable climate action through hands-on research, communications, and climate conference delegations. At university, Brennan led efforts with student club SFU350 to successfully mobilize SFU to commit to fossil fuel divestment and declare a climate emergency.

Lucero Gonzalez

Lucero is a young Mexican immigrant of ñha-ñhú ancestry who currently resides as an uninvited guest on the continuously occupied territories of the q̓ic̓əy̓ and Kwantlen First Nations. She currently holds the Conservation and Policy Campaigner role at the Wilderness Committee. She has been involved in the social and environmental justice movements since she was sixteen and is passionate about the power of policy change driven by grassroots movements and communities. Lucero brings years of experience working in at-risk species protection and legislation, mostly in marine conservation spaces. She is also incredibly passionate about youth involvement in policy spaces, especially in ensuring those spaces are safe for BIPOC youth, like herself, to thrive in.

How to apply

Applications for 2024 are now closed and under review. Questions? Email youth@cpawsbc.org.

Resources

Coping with ecoanxiety

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

How do I apply?

Applications are now open! Apply by completing the application form linked above. This application should take anywhere from 30-60 minutes to complete. You can respond to the questions in whichever way suits you best. You can either respond in short written paragraphs or respond to any or all questions in an audio or video format and attach the file to the response box. The maximum file size is 100MB (you can upload max. 7 files).
What do I need to participate in the program?
I’d like to participate, but face barriers for travel or physical space to join virtually. What are you doing in terms of accessibility?

We’re committed to ensuring accessibility in this program. We encourage applicants to specify any accessibility needs and/or accommodations we should be aware of to support them throughout the duration of the program.

Language: Sessions will be conducted primarily in English

Captions: We will aim to provide captions during all the virtual webinars.

Recordings: We will record the sessions if you can’t make all of them/need to leave early

Discomfort is optional: We encourage you to make yourself as comfortable as possible during this program. For the virtual sessions, take breaks, turn off your camera, make yourself a tea; for the in-person Summit, let our YLICP team or another supervisor know what you need to ensure your comfort and/or feelings of safety.

Financials: If the financial burden of participating is concerning (re: childcare or time off work), let’s connect! youth@cpawsbc.org
What happens after I apply? How will participants be selected?
After you apply, you can expect to receive an email with the status of your admission to the program within one week after the closing date (June 5, 2024 11:59 PM PT). Priority for Indigenous, Black, and Racialized people of the Global Majority, people from working class backgrounds, women, people with disabilities, and 2SLGBTQIA+ communities will be given to support our organization’s policy for equitable recruiting. To ensure the best experience, up to 25 participants will be selected and we’d like more than half of the spots to go to marginalized folks who self-identify on their application.

We ask participants to commit to the full length of the program:
- In-person kick-off summit in late August 2024 (date TBD)
- Attend 1 in-person election townhall in September 2024 (dates TBD)
- Webinar Workshops (~six virtual webinar workshops around ~1.5-2 hrs in length throughout Oct-Nov 2024),
- Multi-day In-person Lobby Day (January 2025 – date TBD)
What is a lobby day?
Is this a paid position?