Climate Change Heroes

At the start of the afternoon, the grade 5 students in Mr. Bloom’s class at Bert Edwards Science and Technology School didn’t know much about climate change.  By the time they left school for the day, they were ready to enlist their families in the challenge of reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

 

The students were participating in the Climate Change Showdown, an educational workshop developed by the BC Sustainable Energy Association (BCSEA).  Jennifer Munro, City of Kamloops Environmental Educator, and BCSEA’s Sadie Cox came to the classroom to present the 80-minute workshop.  Students watched a video, played a board game and did skits illustrating how they’ll work on changing everyday actions to help solve climate change.  The students took a contest sheet home so they can recruit their families to help with driving less, eating local foods, taking shorter showers and turning off the lights.

 

BCSEA volunteers had made arrangements to film the class during the workshop and interview students about their reactions.  Follow-up interviews will be done after the young people have completed the month-long action period with their families.  A short video will be produced, capturing the students’ journey as they learn about climate change and are empowered to influence others and make a difference.

 

Teacher Steve Bloom was eager to bring the workshop to his students because he knows they’ll gain an awareness of what they can do and the power they have within their families.  “As adults, we know what we should be doing, but when your 10-year-old comes to you and suggests switching to doing laundry in cold water, you’re much more likely to actually change your behaviour.”

 

Contest results are tabulated for all of British Columbia, and the winning class and student are recognized in each community.  Donna Rein’s class at Juniper Ridge Elementary was Kamloops’ winning class in 2010.  They celebrated their success with a pizza party – all with locally-sourced ingredients of course.  As chef Donovan Cavers reported, “I can honestly tell you that Donna’s class was the envy of the whole school!”   Other winners were Rachel Robinson of Arthur Stevenson Elementary and Hannah Olsen of Lloyd George Elementary. Overall, Kamloops students and their families achieved a reduction of 207 tonnes of C02!

 

The BC Sustainable Energy Association offers this free program throughout British Columbia and reaches 10,000 children each year.  The Kamloops program is presented in partnership with the City of Kamloops with support from BC Hydro Power Smart and TD Friends of the Environment.  Teachers can sign up now for the free Climate Change Showdown program by contacting Sadie Cox at sadiecox@gmail.com.

 

To learn more about the Climate Change Showdown, visit www.bcsea.org/ccshowdown or call the Kamloops BCSEA at 250-318-6483.

 

With our work in education, advocacy and tangible community projects, the BCSEA empowers British Columbians to build a clean, renewable energy future.

 

For more information, please contact:
Cheryl Kabloona
Telephone: 250-318-6483

Email: kamloops@bcsea.org

 

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