EcoBuzz 2010 Workshops
Keynote Speaker
Matt Tod, Institute for Health and Human Potential, Executive Director of Youth Programs
Matt Tod, has travelled North America as a speaker and facilitator where he blended personal experience and intellect in order to share the challenges surrounding today's youth, as well as offer practical and tangible solutions to these issues.
Using his previous experience and education, as well as numerous surveys and discussions with both educators and youth, Matt developed IHHP's Youth Leadership program—Leadership Rewired—which is now being integrated into school systems in both Canada and the U.S.
With his trademark high energy level, humor and positivity, Matt has an exceptional ability to connect personally with young people in his presentations and workshops. He relates his teachings to what is happening in the world today – in the media, pop culture, and at home – understanding this helps youth better retain the information and apply EI skills to their personal lives. His passion for the science of emotional intelligence has allowed him to apply these theories in his personal life with great success. This clearly translates into his work with youth and their everyday issues.
Teacher Workshops
Policy can be appealing???????? Oh, yes it can!
With Ellen Field and Katya Seckar, EcoSource
This workshop for teachers reviews the exciting environmental shifts in the Ontario formal education system. Through looking at two policy documents, Shaping Our Schools, Shaping Our Future, and Acting Today, Shaping Tomorrow, we will help teachers anticipate upcoming curriculum shifts, professional development opportunities, and steps for greening practices within schools.
Mainstreaming Whole School Approaches
With Steve Alsop, York University and Soni Craik, EcoSource
The field of Environmental Education is quickly changing. New terminology is emerging, new policies are being released, new expectations are raised and new structures are budding within school staff organizations. Where once teachers worked on environmental issues in isolation, probabilities of whole schools working collectively on education for sustainability are being considered. In this workshop we will look at what a whole schools approach is and how school staff can move to more collaborative structures in their community. Information will also be presented on a summer certificate course offered by EcoSource and York University on Whole School Approaches to Educating for Sustainable Development.
Student Workshops:
EcoMentors: Youth. Environment. Leadership.
With Josh Stevenson, Earth Day Canada
Youth play an important role in environmental education. Earth Day Canada’s EcoMentors program provides the opportunity, training and resources for youth across Canada to lead peer-led environmental workshops and activities that encourage positive environmental awareness and action. Through interactive activities and group discussions, this session will give you an opportunity to discover your role as young environmental mentor, and to explore how you can turn education into action for a healthier Earth.
Greenest City
With Carolyn Scotchmer
This workshop will concentrate on the intersection of the environment and food movements, as it happens in the community of Parkdale in Toronto. Greenest City is using urban agriculture and food as a catalyst for personal and environmental change. The Youth Green Squad exemplifies this approach, empowering urban youth through a summer employment program in which participants learn about growing local organic food which they distribute to the community, develop leadership skills and give back to the community through community service.
Waste: Where Does it Go!?
With Karyn Hogan and Damian MacSeain
This waste reduction and recycling workshop presented by Region of Peel staff will relate how school staff and students can contribute to waste diversion in their schools and at home. These efforts will contribute to the Region's 70% waste diversion goal by 2016.
Sketch, Paint and Shoot
With Gary Mascola, Johanna Perz, Rosie Aiken, Lyndsay Jossa
What better way to experience and know local urban wilderness than to take a close look and pencil sketch, water-colour sketch or compose your view through the eye of your camera? Sketch, Paint and Shoot is an opportunity to go outside, saunter the local urban wilderness of Fletcher's Meadow S.S. surrounds and 'make special'. Be dressed for the weather and be prepared to enjoy a good saunter in the snow - bring your camera if you have one or let’s do some quick pencil and water-colour sketches of local nature.
Tracking Our Actions
With Andrew McMartin and Jamie Pope, The P.I.N.E. Project
Through wildlife tracking and nature awareness, we will be taking a look at the immediate surroundings, what life we can find there, and how we move through it. We're going to play some games, explore our surroundings and see what adventures we can find right underfoot. The workshop will include aspects of ecology, wildlife biology, tracking, mapping, and some fun and games to help us keep moving and keep things light.
Project FLOW - For the Love of Water!
With Lilly Briggs, Learning for a Sustainable Future
Water. Eau. Agua. H20. Small words that have a lot of significance in any language. We all know that water is essential to life on this planet. We also know that environmental threats such as pollution and climate change have put our precious water resources at risk. So what can we do to make a difference? Come to this workshop and learn about Project FLOW (For the Love of Water), an initiative of Learning for a Sustainable Future. Through Project FLOW there are all kinds of things you can do to help protect an important water source in your own community, plus funding available to support your future efforts!
Pow Wow Drum
With Anthony Templer and Karen Gellman, Peel Aboriginal Network
Participants will have the opportunity to learn traditional songs and play the Grandmother drum. They will feel the connection through the heart beat of the drum to Mother Earth. This will be a rare opportunity to play this kind of drum, normally only played by men at Pow Wows. Participants will also be given the chance to learn the teachings, and dance the traditional Round Dance or Snake Dance.
Lunch 2.0
With Elisabeth Schieck, EcoSource
This workshop explores the extensive journey that our food takes before it reaches our plates, and highlights the power that we all have to make positive changes with our choices as a consumer. What are the various costs (environmental, social, health, etc) of our food choices? We will examine the range of factors that determines what food we have access to in our daily lives, including in school cafeterias. Who makes these decisions? What exactly is “local food” and what is the role and benefit of local food systems as opposed to other food systems? Participants will be challenged to explore the ways that they can effect change and will be provided an opportunity to express their opinions about school food options and the possibility of incorporating local food options into schools.
Make Your Own Biodegradeable Plastic
With Kelli Hazzard, Fletcher's Meadow S.S.
This workshop will examine waste, in particular plastic, and its impact on the planet. Students will learn a little about plastics and the alternatives that exist. Then, we'll get in touch with the science geek in all of us and cook up our own 'green' plastic!
Leadership Rewired! Unlocking Youth Potential and Ensuring Student Success
With Matt Tod, Institute for Health and Human Potential
Workshops will build on the information provided in keynote as well as provide student leaders with skills to help recognize and manage their emotions, handle burnout, create balance and tips on sustaining leadership. Students will leave with a stronger understanding of how their emotions impact their behaviour and other people’s. Students will also begin a personal leadership action plan.
Environmental Justice
With Carly Joynt and Erica Nickels, Sierra Youth Coalition
Why do some communities have tonnes of public green space, and others must organize to prevent the city from installing a landfill in their backyards? Why, in a country with some of the most sophisticated water treatment plants in the world, are hundreds of Canadian aboriginal communities boiling their tap water before it is considered safe to drink? How is it that in a publicly funded education system, some schools still have more resources than others to address environmental challenges? Who makes these decisions - and how can youth find our voice? Participants in this dynamic, interactive workshop facilitated by the Sierra Youth Coalition will use a variety of tools to take an up-close-and-personal look at who has privilege... and what we can do about it.
For more information, please contact:
Stephanie Crocker, Youth-Adult Partnerships Program Manager, EcoSource
905.274.6222 or scrocker @ ecosource.ca
