GUELPH – The Upper Grand District School Board (UGDSB) will be holding its first ever “Grade 9 Climate Showdown” at the University of Guelph Arboretum on Dec. 17.
The climate change conference will be hosted by Grade 10 students in the board’s Community Environmental Leadership Program (CELP) and will include 150 Grade 9 students.
“This day is being planned by Grade 10 CELP students and their teachers as part of their curriculum in Science, Civics and Interdisciplinary Studies and is funded by the Youth Climate Action Grant from the City of Guelph,” UGDSB officials state.
Grade 9 students from Geography classes at three Guelph high schools – John F. Ross Collegiate Vocational Institute (CVI), Guelph CVI and Centennial CVI will compete in hands -on team challenges. These challenges will focus on:
– food waste;
– United Nations Sustainable Development Goals;
– sustainable transportation;
– raising their voices;
– invasive species;
– native tree ID;
– local climate issues and solutions; and
– a slackline teamwork challenge.
Points will be awarded by “local celebrity judges from community groups and city departments that have been working on climate issues in our community,” officials state.
Guelph’s MPP Mike Schreiner will be addressing the students on the importance of taking climate change action.
During lunch, teams will have the opportunity to earn more points by visiting the climate fair to learn about how to act on climate change issues in Guelph.
Organizations in attendance will include the Guelph Climate Action Network, Guelph Coalition for Active Transportation, Guelph Transportation Services Department, Emerge Guelph, 10C United Nations Sustainable Development Goals Coordinator, Yorklands Green Hub, Trees for Guelph, Guelph Forestry and Sustainable Landscapes Department, Guelph Tool Library, Guelph Energy and Climate Change Department, Trout Unlimited, Youth Voices of Ontario, and Seniors for Climate Action Now.
