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 Roots & Shoots with Jimmy Fallon. Today, Roots & Shoots is a globally-recognized youth leadership program. In Canada, over 12,000 young people are actively involved in projects. Over 80,000 community members are being directly impacted. How It Works Roots & Shoots is open to young activists from pre-school to post-secondary. Anyone 18 and older can become a member and start their own project today. Adult champions who work with youth under 18 can start a project for their classroom, youth group, community centre, or anywhere youth gather. There are 4 steps to every Roots & Shoots project: Get Inspired Map Your Community Take Action Celebrate Your Impact! Using our online guide, and available support from JGI 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, it’s free! Are you an adult champion? Get started here. Young advocates 18+, get started here. 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 Young Leaders (18+) 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. Get Started Adult Champions 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 Climate Change (Environment) Drought Tolernat Watersmart Landscaping and Land/ Watershed Field Study with Indigenous Perspective With Battle River Watershed Education- Fish, Water & Climate Change ideas 1. Field studies; Understanding Riparian Work with City of Lacombe partners -education of our local wetlands 2. Indigenous Water Story/Elders 3.Drought Tolerant Plantings – Water Smart Native Planting Biodiversity Loss (Animals), Climate Change (Environment), Environmental Inequity (People) Eat Clean Toronto! Eat Clean Toronto is a project that aims to reduce food-related harm to the environment by educating and empowering youth to incorporate sustainability in their eating habits. Our mission is to reduce food wastage, reduce emissions, and protect wildlife through education. Biodiversity Loss (Animals), Climate Change (Environment), Environmental Inequity (People) Ecosystem Restoration Students have a strong desire to restore ecosystems in and around our school. We are proud to have started a Native Plant and Pollinator Garden that serves as a hub for these activities. Students will continue to grow this garden space, plant more native species and learn plant knowledge from elders Biodiversity Loss (Animals), Climate Change (Environment), Environmental Inequity (People) Empowering marginalised youth as environmental stewards Toronto has a large population of marginalized youth who are new immigrants, people of colour & are economically vulnerable. Through workshops & a field action campaign this project will engage, educate & empower these youth to become environmental stewards within their local communities. Biodiversity Loss (Animals), Climate Change (Environment) Environmental Sustainability of Beauchemin Park The area around some of the trees in our park are eroding and becoming compacted. We want to let these areas rest for a full year in order to observe the land resting and regenerating. We want to use the knowledge we gain to examine other well-used areas of the park, and help restore those […] Climate Change (Environment), Environmental Inequity (People) Establish In 2020 with funding from the APE Fund, Shake Up The Establishment launched Establish, a podcast by youth for youth centred on amplifying youth voices in climate justice conversations. In 2023, we will continue to host experts across so-called Canada to educate youth on politics and the environment Biodiversity Loss (Animals), Climate Change (Environment), Environmental Inequity (People) Establishing a Land-Based Indigenous Ecology teaching and learning project in the Orchard Garden The Orchard Garden Land-Based Indigenous Ecology Lab will create a culturally-appropriate place for Indigenous knowledge keepers to teach UBC students via hands-on experience of traditional land stewardship, building food systems sustainability and resilience through nature-based climate solutions. Environmental Inequity (People) Food Insecurity in Urban Settings We are facing many global pressures, namely the fractured state of agri-food systems. It is critically important to transform how we think, communicate, and how we engage with the rest of the world. An issue I am addressing is food security, by hosting workshops I hope to educate and inspire Environmental Inequity (People) Food is Life! Nature is Wellness! Food is life. Nature fosters wellness. The food we eat and time in nature have a powerful impact on our health and wellbeing. Our project will focus on organizing a hands-on community event to teach families about farm to table meals and how to explore nature as a form of healing and wellness. « 1 2 3 4 5 … 10 »
