Canada Programs Roots & Shoots Inspiring and equipping the next generation of conservation leaders. Find Your Path How It Started Dr. Jane Goodall started Roots & Shoots over 30 years ago when she met with some young people who were eager to fix local problems. She was struck by their energy, their optimism, and their willingness to tackle crises they didn’t create. Roots & Shoots helps young people harness this energy and become the community leaders not just of tomorrow, but of today. Watch Jane talk about Roots & Shoots with Jimmy Fallon. Today, Roots & Shoots is a globally-recognized youth leadership program. In Canada, more than 12,000 young people are actively involved in projects. More than 80,000 community members are being directly impacted. How It Works There are 4 steps to every Roots & Shoots project: Get Inspired Map Your Community Take Action Celebrate Your Impact! Using our online guide, and with support available from Jane Goodall Institute of Canada staff, Roots & Shoots teaches young people how to design projects that tackle the intersection of biodiversity loss (animals), environmental inequity (people), and climate change (the environment). Oh, and it’s free! Educators and adult allies, get started here. Youth and those registering on behalf of youth, get started here. Have you already developed and implemented your Roots & Shoots project? Let us know so we can share your story and inspire others to get involved – report your project here! Please note: Applications for our A.P.E. Fund – which provides support for Roots & Shoots projects – are available annually. You can check out previous projects, and the current timeline for funding, on our A.P.E. Fund page. What It’s All About Hear from other Roots & Shoots members who changed the world, and were changed in return. That’s what it’s all about. What Others Have To Say Sara Rana, Grade 11 Student, Ontario “The program provided me with the opportunity to translate my ideas into action. Through Roots & Shoots, I have been able to channel my passion into implementing initiatives that bring Indigenous culture to life.” Jennifer Ward, Teacher, British Columbia “I am so honoured to be part of this program. Roots and Shoots and the APE grant allows for the students to have a voice, be heard, and allow them to share the knowledge they have received from local elders with our entire community. This program is invaluable. I am so grateful to be associated with such positive steps toward acknowledging the truth of the experiences of others, injustices of people in our community and injustices toward land/animals so we can move ahead to begin to move towards reconciliation within our community.” Robyn Matthews, Teacher, Newfoundland “Letting students choose what they want to learn about completely changed the goals of this project. Students became invested in beekeeping more than I ever thought possible. They conquered their fears of talking to the public as well as their fear of bees. The project has also created a lot of buzz throughout the community and initiated other families and community members to join the bee community.” Sophie Bordeleau Kent, student, Quebec I like that it encourages youth to help the environment, animals and people across the globe. I also like the fact that the organization encourages and supports many types of projects, however big or small. Find Your Path to Get Started Youth/On Behalf of Youth If you’re 18 or older, you can start your own Roots & Shoots group or project in your community, on your campus, or in your home. If you’re under 18, you can get started with help from your parent or guardian. Get Started Educators and Adult Allies Are you an educator, parent, or adult community leader who works with youth? You can start a Roots & Shoots project or group with the young people in your life. Get Started Our Program Partners Roots & Shoots Projects Across Canada Resources Our Resource section includes things like our Climate Change Curriculum Guide and our Biodiversity Guide. These can be helpful tools for any project! Discover Resources Current Projects Environmental Inequity (People) A Youth-led Community Art Project at the Healing Place The collaborative art project is an opportunity for Indigenous and allied youth to express themselves by developing art pieces to be displayed in the Healing Place’s Reconciliation and Climate Change Garden, a community green space dedicated to creating places of healing that are safe and ethical. Biodiversity Loss (Animals), Climate Change (Environment), Environmental Inequity (People) Argyle green Team Revitalization Argyle Alternative Green Team would like to develop and deliver land based environmental lessons integrating the principles of sustainability for early and middle years students and their teachers using the resources found in our outdoor classroom and incorporating the UNESCO Priority Areas 2-4. Climate Change (Environment), Environmental Inequity (People) Beating the cold Beating the cold is looking at ways to get our students outside in the winter and enjoy the great outdoors. We will take the students on a 3-day outdoor trip to explore the wilderness, enjoy winter activates and learn some winter safety and survival skills. Biodiversity Loss (Animals), Climate Change (Environment) Butterflies, Bees & Me! Lending a helping hand to our pollinators. Our youngest students will learn about how important bees, butterflies and other pollinators are! They will use their knowledge to teach the rest of the school why they should consider helping them with their project and planting flowers at their own homes. Biodiversity Loss (Animals), Climate Change (Environment), Environmental Inequity (People) Butterfly Gardens On Treaty 1 land, students will create Butterfly Gardens by planting and caring for indigenous plants, native prairie shrubs, grasses and wildflowers. Students will observe biodiversity, connect to the land, and experience how to harvest the indigenous plants and medicines in the fall. Biodiversity Loss (Animals), Environmental Inequity (People) Caring for K9s The students have recognized the need to support rural northern First Nations communities with canine and feline over population. We are collaborating with another class in our school to create art and host an art show to raise funds and awareness to support the local rescue, K9 Advocates Manitoba. Biodiversity Loss (Animals), Environmental Inequity (People) Cedar Mulch Replacement The grade 5 class will replace the cedar mulch in the area that connects our outdoor classroom and forested walkway. Biodiversity Loss (Animals), Climate Change (Environment) Chase Pollinator Project The goal of this project is to create safe habitat and food sources for local pollinators. We will set up a small food forest and two community pollinator gardens. We will offer many opportunities to educate community members on both the importance of pollinators and how to care for them. Biodiversity Loss (Animals), Climate Change (Environment) Chicken habitat and permaculture 7th graders want to help improve the soil in our region. This project will help fund a chicken coop. Chickens will reduce school food scraps and produce compost for gardening. Parts of our lawn will be replaced with compost, native flowers(permaculture). Students will also learn about foraging. 1 2 3 … 10 »
