'The next generation of climate champions': Conservation-centered spring break activities inspiring youth
School might be out for spring break for many Manitoba students, but that isn't stopping them from learning about important climate issues.
As a kid, Colleen Flook attended a FortWhyte Alive summer camp and is now passing on some of that fun to her daughter, Charmayne, for her spring break.
"Looking for minnows in the pond and being inside the building was always cool and paddling. It was a really fun experience," recalled Flook.
FortWhyte Alive's spring break camps are completely sold out, but they are also hosting different self-guided walks and activities for youth to enjoy on their break from classes.
Visitors can partake in outdoor activities like examining various animal tracks, looking for different textures in nature or seeing how a farm works, depending on the day they visit.
"We are trying to raise the next generation of climate champions here at FortWhyte. People who are aware of their natural environment and how they connect here at FortWhyte," said Mark Saunders, the communications and brand manager at FortWhyte Alive.
Conservation is a topic top of mind following a United Nations report released earlier this month painting a stark picture of the future if the world doesn't slash its carbon pollution quickly.
READ MORE: World on 'thin ice' as UN climate report gives stark warning.
With today's youth facing the largest impact, it adds extra importance to climate-focused spring break programming like the Manitoba Museum's, which is all about water this year.
The museum has water-based science demos, a planetarium show about water conservation and many more H20-centered activities.
"Water is so important to life, animals, to our understanding of the world, so it just seemed like a really great theme," explained Anya Moodie-Foster, the museum's learning and engagement supervisor. "Some of our special programming is going to extend all the way to earth day."
While sharing an educational message is the goal, spring break hosts like Assiniboine Park Zoo have to pass the info along while still making it fun for the children.
"So it's really important to have them here in this atmosphere and have crafts and talks and things that inspire them to think about these animals and their connections they have to the environment around them," said Sara Wolowich Brown, communications coordinator for Assiniboine Park Conservancy.
A message certainly passed on to those there on Sunday.
"Because if we don't keep them safe, then all the animals will go extinct," said one young student there with her family.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Former homicide detective explains how police will investigate shooting outside Drake's Bridle Path mansion
Footage from dozens of security cameras in the area of Drake’s Bridle Path mansion could be the key to identifying the suspect responsible for shooting and seriously injuring a security guard outside the rapper’s sprawling home early Tuesday morning, a former Toronto homicide detective says.
Federal government grants B.C.'s request to recriminalize hard drugs in public spaces
The federal government is granting British Columbia's request to recriminalize hard drugs in public spaces, nearly two weeks after the province asked to end its pilot project early over concerns of public drug use.
Stormy Daniels describes meeting Trump during occasionally graphic testimony in hush money trial
Stormy Daniels took the witness stand Tuesday at Donald Trump's hush money trial, describing for jurors a sexual encounter the porn actor says she had with him in 2006 that resulted in her being paid off to keep silent during the presidential race 10 years later.
MPs agree Canadian gov't should improve new disability benefit
The federal government needs to safeguard the incoming Canada Disability Benefit from clawbacks and do more to ensure it actually meets the stated aim of lifting people living with disabilities out of poverty, MPs from all parties agree.
King Charles too busy to see son Prince Harry during U.K. trip
Prince Harry will not be seeing his father King Charles during his current visit to Britain as the monarch will be too busy, Harry's spokesperson said on Tuesday.
Boy Scouts of America changing name for first time in 114 years, aiming for inclusivity
The Boy Scouts of America is changing its name for the first time in its 114-year history and will become Scouting America. It's a significant shift as the organization emerges from bankruptcy following a flood of sexual abuse claims and seeks to focus on inclusion.
opinion Tom Mulcair: Trudeau's handling of Poilievre's 'wacko' House turfing a clear sign of Liberal desperation
When Speaker Greg Fergus tossed out Pierre Poilievre from the House last week, "those of us who have experience as parliamentarians simply couldn't believe our eyes," writes former NDP leader Tom Mulcair in his column for CTVNews.ca
Security guard shot, seriously injured outside of Drake's Toronto mansion
A security guard working at Drake’s Bridle Path mansion in Toronto was seriously injured in a shooting outside the residence early Tuesday morning, police said.
Katy Perry's mom was fooled by AI images of the singer at the Met Gala
Katy Perry did not attend the Met Gala on Monday, but some of the singer’s fans – and even her mom – thought she did.