Our Youth Action Grants are one of the ways we fulfil our priority of Empowering Youth in the region. This is our 7th year offering youth-led grants and we are always inspired by the creative projects and their beneficial ripple effects in the community. These grants of up to $500 help to facilitate an important capacity-building experience for youth aged 10-25. They learn about the granting process, budgeting, project management, leadership, and how to find community partners to help implement the project.
Aside from the direct benefits to the grantee, the program positively impacts the larger community through the opportunity to participate in the funded projects, as well as building capacity in the youth population through skills development and forming relationships with local businesses and organizations. “Youth are a largely untapped resource for healthy community development, they have fresh ideas, perspectives, and energy to bring to the table and this program is one small way that we can support their ideas come to fruition,” says Faye Missar, CBT’s Program Coordinator.
Two of this year’s projects based in Ucluelet include a subsidized summer kayaking program with Hello Nature Adventure Tours and a subsidized Bronze Medallion course. Both serve to fill a need for summer recreation as well as facilitating the learning of important life skills. The summer kayak program is already underway and the participants are learning lots and having fun!
14-year-old Riley was a co-applicant on the grant for the Bronze Medallion course along with his friend Eli. He said the course made him feel a lot more confident both in his ability to aid someone in distress in the water as well as navigating rip currents alone. These are important skills for a young person growing up in the region who spends lots of time in the water surfing as well as teaching others.
Bronze Medallion Course. Photos: Nicole Gerbrandt
In Tofino, Ethan and Phoenix (both 14 years old) have received funding to put up wildlife cameras with the goal of monitoring local wildlife activity. They hope to use this project to educate the community about wildlife in the area and in turn ensure that their neighbours are doing what they can to keep these animals safe. The project is underway and they have already captured some wildlife photos and have been able to notify their neighbours when there is a bear in the area. They have also been able to work with Bob Hansen of WildSafe BC and said he has been, “helpful in us learning about educating others in a thoughtful way to balance informing others and the privacy of the wildlife and their habitat.” This project was funded by both Youth Action Grants and Neighbourhood Small Grants.
Bear and its cubs captured by Ethan and Phoenix's trail cam funded by their Youth Action Grant/Neighbourhood Small grant.
Photo: Ethan Stere and Phoenix Greig
These grants would not be possible without the generous support from the District of Ucluelet and the District of Tofino; we are so grateful for this continued partnership!
If you have an idea for a youth-led community project get in touch with Faye Missar at faye@clayoquotbiosphere.org or by phone 250-725-2219.
