Six Canyon Falls Middle School students are working with CARE mentor Josh Smith to understand the vital link between plants, partnerships, and protecting the planet.
A biologist with Xeriscape Endemic Nursery & Ecological Solutions, Smith is showing the team that growing indigenous plants is the best way to protect nature and biodiversity, thereby supporting local climate action.
The team is reviving a garden outside their classroom by planting drought-tolerant, winter-resistant native species that require less water and attract pollinators.
In addition to being sustainable, this approach contributes to local food security and supports Okanagan growers economically.
Student Katherine Krieger says their project will show our school how we can be deliberate about changing important things in our own community to take action for our climate.
"Pollinators will start coming, and someone else might realize how good pollinator plants are and then plant these in their own gardens, too,” Krieger said.
Another CARE team member, Claire Lin, noted, “Normally people think that climate change is this big thing you can’t do anything about, but I’ve realized that I can change things with small actions.”
CARE (Climate Action Ripple Effect) is a program led by the Fresh Outlook Foundation in collaboration with school districts, municipalities, and community mentors from all sectors.
CARE was launched in 2022 to mobilize student and community climate action in Vernon, and then expanded into the Central Okanagan this year.
Central Okanagan School District middle-school students will display their projects at the Expo of Awesome at UBC Okanagan on Thursday, May 15, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., while high-school students from both school districts 22 and 23 will celebrate their successes at the CARE Expo on May 29, 9:30 a.m. to 2 p.m., at the Vernon Curling Club.
Supporting this CARE endeavour has been participating school districts and local governments, the Social Planning & Research Council of BC, Community Foundation of North Okanagan, FortisBC, Associated Environmental Inc., Sperling Hansen Associates, Nixon & Wenger and Silver Star.
