Climate change is the greatest challenge of this generation. Wildsight launched Canada’s first Youth Climate Corps (YCC) program in September 2020. This program empowers young people to inspire and implement solutions to the climate crisis through employment, training, and leadership development. While we work to bring these benefits to our region, our partners at Youth Climate Corps are working to spread this model across the country.
Our inaugural YCC crew was based in the West Kootenay region surrounding Nelson. We’re now running two crews: West Kootenay and Kimberley-Cranbrook. In the YCC, crew members ages 17-30 earn wages, gain work experience, build networks, and develop themselves personally and professionally. Meanwhile, they complete projects that both benefit their own communities and support global efforts to act on the climate crisis. To date, YCC projects have focused on:
- wildfire risk reduction
- local food security
- energy efficiency
- ecosystem restoration
- community engagement
- youth leadership
Over years to come, Wildsight will continue working to launch YCC crews in other locations across the Columbia Basin.
Read all the latest Youth Climate Corps news here.
For more information, please contact Graeme Lee Rowlands.
Wildsight thanks Arjay R. and Frances F. Miller Foundation, BC Parks, Columbia Basin Trust, Eco Canada, Get Youth Working!, Kootenay Career Development Society, Living Lakes Canada, Preston-Werner Ventures, the Province of BC, and our many community partners for making the Youth Climate Corps possible.
