Expo a Highlight of Environment Week in SD83 Schools

The public is invited to come view student environmental inquiry projects, check out the BC Tomorrow simulator, listen to environmental singers, a story teller and interact with students at the first ever K̓wsaltktnéws ne Secwepemcúl’ecw School District No. 83 K- 12 Environmental Expo being held at Piccadilly Mall on April 22, which is Earth Day.

Several classes of students will also be at the Expo, which runs from 10 a.m. until 2:30 p.m., with their environment projects and PALS from South Canoe School’s Outdoor Program will be handing out seedlings as well as tips on how to plant them and make them thrive!.

Award winning environmental singer-songwriter from the Yukon, Remy Rodden will be one of the performers at the mall and will perform throughout the week at local elementary schools.

Also performing at the mall will be local singers Juanita Austin & Jim McConnell, and former music teacher Joan Southworth.

Teacher Dave Ramsay will be bringing his B.C. Tomorrow Simulator to the Expo, and students will be demonstrating its use.

BC Tomorrow is an educational tool to understand sustainable planning. It is an innovative set of learning tools that teachers at multiple grade levels can use with their students. The main driver, the engaging land use simulator, functions like a time machine as students can look back in time and see changes that have taken place. They can then go into the future to see how the land could look, given current trends. Students can also see what happens when certain changes are made, or not made, and see the impact this has on the environment and society. The students also take an active part in the program as they can collect, geotag and save water sampling data, images, video and other observations and share with other users of the program.

Secwépemc storyteller Kenthen Thomas will be at Okanagan Regional Library to share traditional stories.

A group of students from South Canoe, who are part of the PALS group (Planning, Animals and Learning Society) will be handling out seedlings for the public to plant. They can also give you some tips about how to plant the seedling so it thrives and benefits the environment into the future!

Also visiting the mall will be the Earth Day Queen, the Lorax and Yertle the Turtle.

Along with the public display at Piccadilly Mall, throughout the week there will be events at various district schools. Students from Kindergarten through Grade 12 have been working on projects for Environment Week. The projects are wide ranging and very ambitious. They include insect studies, whirling disease research and signage, Canoe Creek studies, climate change mitigation and adaptation, fire smarting schools, water conservation, recycling, waste reduction, food security, shopping locally, impact of fashion, public transit, beauty products, tree planting, and many more.

One of the Expo organizers, Kim Fulton, adds that one of the most exciting aspects of the event is that it extends beyond students simply sharing their projects. The next steps focus on mentorship and building community connections. The Shuswap Rotarians, a key sponsor, have stepped up to facilitate this vital mentorship component while also providing financial support.

A group of retired educators and Rotary mentors met with several secondary classes to speak to the students and provide mentorship. This included Kathy Dunfield (sciences), Ric Fetterly (forestry, mechanical, entrepreneur), Mike Boudreau (advanced mechnical, robotics, entrepreneur, climate science) and Natalya Melnychuk (water expert and CSRD Chair). They were joined by two retired principals and environmental educators, Wayne Spencer and Kim Fulton.

Fulton commented afterwards that the discussions with the the student groups about their projects were very robust, with some of the students having some really interesting ideas about inquiring into environmental sustainability issues in the Shuswap.

In addition to the organizing committee, several sponsors have stepped up to support the Expo. The Habitat Conservation Trust Foundation has provided funding for supplies, equipment, and bussing, while the North Okanagan School Teachers’ Association and the B.C. Teachers’ Federation have contributed a Climate Action Grant. SD83 Directors of Instruction for Elementary and Secondary have been integral in helping this important event be implemented, with school district staff assisting with logistical support.

This week is celebration of stewardship and of our connections to the land, air, and waters of K̓wsaltktnéws ne Secwepemcúl’ecw School District No. 83.