Eco-friendly conferences and what they offer

Last weekend I attended the 2011 Ecomentors Youth Conference, and in September I was at the 2011 Youth Summit for Biodiversity and Sustainable Living. Since I love making lists, here are the highlights of each conference.

• 2011 Youth Summit for Biodiversity and Sustainable Living, hosted by the Ontario Nature Youth Council
• Took place at a YMCA camp in the lovely Cedar Glen, which is in the Oak Ridges Moraine. There were cabins with running water and everything!
• Programming was wonderful. The workshops I went to included a nature hike, "Waterlution", electric cars, archery, and more.
• Vegetarian/vegan food was served for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, and snacks, too.
• Major group activities such as icebreakers, keynote presentation from Lisa Glithero (founder of Students on Ice excursion group), and the Great Group Challenge! Late in the evening, we got to listen to an Anishanabe elder's Aboriginal stories and sing songs around a campfire.
• What I got out of it: FUN, motivation, information, freebies, and membership in the Ontario Nature Youth Council. (To join the Ontario Nature Youth Council, go to the Ontario Nature's Website.)
• Insiders info: There's gonna be one next year, so make sure you go!...
• See pictures at: http://www.ontarionature.org/connect/nature_guardians/biodiversity_summit.php (and try to find the picture that I am in!)

•  2011 Ecomentors Youth Conference
• At St. Paul's University in Ottawa
• Lasted for the day
• My workshops included: Jane Goodall's Roots and Shoots, Becoming Nature Guardians (with Ontario Nature), All About Forestry, Greening Sacred Spaces: Protecting What We Love, Biodiversity Issues.
• At the beginning and end of the day we had presentations. The first one was from Emily Hunter, "eco-warrior" and daughter of Robert Hunter, who is the founder of Greenpeace. The second wasn't very good, so I won't mention it. Emily Hunter is an awesome speaker and person, though.
• The day also offered Ecomentors Speed Training, which people could enter if they wanted to teach others in their community as an Ecomentor!
• Their website is: http://www.ecomentors.ca/, put together by Earth Day Canada; go to http://www.earthday.ca/pub/
• A "green lunch" was served, and everyone seemed to enjoy it. (I didn't try it, though!)
• What I got out of it: information, motivation, springboard for new ideas, inspiration, a chance to connect with other Earth-caring people, freebies, and info on how to participate in some eco-friendly contests (Upcoming-- go to http://www.everydayheroesfestival.com/ and http://www.earthday.ca/pub/campaigns/upcycling/ .)
• Chances are, there'll be one next year, so keep checking their website!

If you're not a youth, but you want to get involved, you could either volunteer at one of next years events or go to a non-youth environmental summit (although youth would be welcome at most of those, too). For global conferences (some of which are in Canada), see http://www.conferencealerts.com/environment.htm . Medium things are on http://www.planetfriendly.net/calendar/?list=environmental-conferences-in-canada . If you want a small-scale event, go to http://www.greenottawa.ca/ . You may be able to find something ecofriendly at http://www.ottawafestivals.ca/category/festival/ . Please, get involved! The environmental movement needs you!