Keep it Wild: Youth, Technology and the Conservation Movement

How can youth become more involved in the conservation movement?
How can technology and alternative media outlets be used to excite youth about conservation, wildlife, and where the wild things are?

15-20 page report, including recommendations for youth involvement and potential alternative and economic media outlets

Through web research and creative brainstorming, the student will put together a document that outlines possibilities for youth-oriented events, programs and outreach, that showcase the need for conservation and wilderness protection in British Columbia. The emphasis for this project is on creativity and utilizing accessible technology to create a buzz for wilderness protection.

Options to explore may include: cell phone film fest, blogs, "stay wild" silent dance party, public art

The results of this project will help inform CPAWS-BC of the possibilities for capturing the enthusiasm of youth to protect the wild and beautiful places in BC. This initial project could form the basis for a longer term, ongoing focus to involve and excite youth about conservation.

In the face of political, environmental and economic change, CPAWS-BC would like to see the expansion of support base for conservation work in BC, into different age categories and demographic circles. Protecting the wonders of our province and captivating youth to partake in this undertaking will prove invaluable in the coming years.

Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society - BC Chapter

CPAWS works with communities, First Nations, government agencies, other conservation groups, fishing organizations and others in our efforts to ensure the long-term health of the terrestrial and marine environments. Recently we have initiated a strong focus on protecting biodiversity and forests in light of climate change (to mitigate climate change as well as to protect biodiversity.) We enable others to learn about and participate in climate change activities. CPAWS is a national non-profit organization. Our structure is unique among conservation groups as we are chapter-driven, yet nationally focused. Our regional strength is unparalleled with twelve chapters throughout Canada, totaling about 32,000 members. Our Chapter � CPAWS-BC � works cooperatively with a wide range of interest groups at the federal, provincial and local levels.

CPAWS has a history of success and the capacity to engage successfully with both a wide variety of stakeholders and decision-makers within industry and government. These have given us positive public profile, and good working relationships within all levels of the provincial government, including personal relationships with several members of the current cabinet. As we are non-partisan in our approach, these relationships extend to opposition parties as well.

The BC Chapter currently has good access to politicians in BC, Alberta, Idaho, Montana, Washington State, Washington DC and Ottawa. We have built the expertise to generate province-wide media coverage and have also had success working in a positive, pro-active way with industry. This is critical to this campaign as the BC government is reluctant to make anti-industry decisions, yet it listens carefully if industry makes pro-conservation decisions.

CPAWS national organization has strong communications and public outreach capacity, and a solid track record through successful campaigns for funding for national parks, strong legislative and policy frameworks for federal protected areas. We have coordinated a national Nahanni campaign for more than five years. Over the past year, CPAWS has developed strong relationships with the federal government, including the Environment Minister and the Prime Minister�s Office. We also have good relations with opposition parties, who we brief regularly on conservation priorities.

The Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society is Canada's grassroots voice for wilderness. Founded in 1963, CPAWS has helped protect over 400,000 square kilometres of threatened areas. The British Columbia Chapter was founded in 1979, and is one of 13 CPAWS Chapters.
CPAWS is a non-profit membership-based conservation organization, and we remain the only national non-profit organization devoted exclusively to protecting Canada's wilderness heritage.
CPAWS-BC is the only province-wide organization that monitors and advocates solely for parks and wilderness-related legislation, policy and issues. Many of these campaigns and sites are at a critical stage in their activity.

A fundamental context for success in these campaigns is public education and the need for private and public land conservation groups to work closely together.