| Dark Sky | Watershed | Forest Monitoring | Salamander Monitoring | Youth Involvement |
YOUTH INVOLVEMENT - HELPING OUR YOUTH
YOUTH EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY
For four years, the Bruce Peninsula Biosphere Association has provided local youth with an opportunity to gain hands-on employment experiences under the mentorship of re-source professionals
HELPING OUR UNESCO SCHOOLS
One of the objectives of the Bruce Peninsula Biosphere Association is to ‘maintain a strong link with the youth of the community.’ It has helped three local schools to be-come a part of UNESCO’s Associated Schools Project Network (ASPnet), an in-ternational network of 7,793 schools in 175 countries. This program encourages students to think globally but act locally by exploring world issues in the context of their own environments, experiences and aspirations.
PAST PROJECTS:
ASPNET ACCREDITATION / ONTARIO ASPNET COMMITTEE (2002-2005)
In 2001, the Bruce Peninsula Biosphere Association began to explore opportunities for local schools to join the UNESCO Associated Schools Program Network (ASPnet). This international network of schools consists of 7,793 educational institutions in 175 countries committed to the ideals of UNESCO. Through this network, students are able to explore issues relevant to their own environment in a more global context, such as: (1) World Concerns and the Role of United Nations, (2) Human Rights, Democracy, and Tolerance, (3) Intercultural Learning, and (4) Environmental Concerns.
The Bruce Peninsula Biosphere Association has developed ongoing partnerships with the local schools to facilitate their accreditation as UNESCO ASPnet Schools. After exceeding the expectations of the Canadian Commission for UNESCO, Bruce Peninsula District School and St. Edmund's Public School became the first schools in Ontario to qualify as Candidate ASPnet Schools in 2003. To foster an intercultural learning environment, Cape Croker Elementary School was invited to become a partner, becoming one of the first aboriginal schools to participate in the ASPnet program throughout Canada. The partnerships established between the three participating ASPnet Schools, the Bruce Peninsula Biosphere Association, and the local community is a unique model among ASPnet Schools in Canada, and this relationship has gained significant national and international recognition.
WATER QUALITY MONITORING MANUAL (2002)
Since 2002, Grade 10 students from Bruce Peninsula District School have been using a resource developed by the Bruce Peninsula Biosphere Association to monitor the health of inland lakes on the Bruce Peninsula. By comparing the physical, chemical and biological characteristics of Cameron Lake and Emmett Lake, students have been able to determine the effects of local shoreline development on our aquatic ecosystems. As an on-going study, the data collected contributes to a long-term database, allowing changes in the ecosystems to be monitored over an extended period of time.
GREY-BRUCE CHILDREN'S WATER FESTIVAL (2003-2005)
The Grey-Bruce Children's Water Festival is an event that cultivates an understanding and appreciation of the water we use and the environment in which we live. Each year the event brings together over 15 community organizations, 400 volunteers, and 3,000 new water stewards. For a third year, secondary students from Bruce Peninsula District School attended the event as mentors to teach grade 4 students about the world's freshwater resources. The Bruce Peninsula Biosphere Association has supported the Grey-Bruce Children's Water Festival by providing
funding for transportation of local student volunteers and logistical support for the event.
STUDENT LOGO CONTEST (2001)
In 2002, the Bruce Peninsula Biosphere Association coordinated a contest among local students to design it official logo. Several students participated in the contest, which provided an opportunity to cultivate an awareness of the Association among the youth in the community.
IF THE WORLD WERE A VILLAGE (2004)
To help promote environmental, cultural, and economic sustainability in the classroom, the Bruce Peninsula Biosphere Association has provided resources for teachers at the local schools. All three schools have received copies of the book, 'If the World Were a Village' by David J. Smith, which promotes an understanding of world issues such as literacy, hunger, clean air, and clean water.
REGIONAL ENVIROTHON (2002-2005)
For the fourth year, students from Bruce Peninsula District School have participated in the Envirothon, a student competition that challenges youth to work as a team to explore environmental topics, such as forestry, soils, aquatics, and wildlife. The Bruce Peninsula Biosphere Association has supported the event by providing funding for transportation of local teams and logistical support for the event.
| home | about | projects | what is a biosphere reserve | fundraising | people/places | contact |
