Participants aged 13-18 will focus on building a strong foundation in environmental and social justice and organizational skills relevant to high school students. “This is no ordinary summer camp,” explains co-organizer Kaleigh McGregor-Bales. “Using direct, participatory education we will inform, activate and empower youth to undertake projects leading to ecological and social well-being in their communities by talking about the issues, building the necessary skills for taking action, making music, playing games and hanging out in a youth-positive space.”

Participants age 19-30 will focus on movement building in the community and developing capacity in organizing for climate justice. Participants will become empowered with the skills, connections, and confidence to become effective grassroots organizers. “The main goal of this camp is to build the strength, size, and skillbase of climate activists across Canada,” says camp co-organizer Robin Tress. “We’re hoping to engage people of all backgrounds and lifestyles so that the climate movement can move forward while representing a wide diversity needs and opinions.” Discussions will challenge widely-accepted paradigms in environmentalism, and lead into creating a national action plan to grow the climate movement and strive for climate justice.

To keep the camp barrier-free the Atlantic Eco-Warrior Training is very affordable. The four days of food, lodging and activities costs only $50, and bursaries are available to cover registration and travel costs. This is possible thanks to the generous support of the Elemental Sustainability, Beyond the Box Law, the Council of Canadians, Kiaros, Mountain Equipment Co-op, and our other sponsors.”

What is a climate justice movement?

Climate change is not just an environmental issue. When farmers’ crops fail from unnatural droughts, this is a livelihood issue. When our grandparents die from heat waves, this is a health issue. When children can no longer play hockey on outdoor rinks, this is a cultural issue. When job opportunities disappear because corporations and governments refused to listen to a changing world, this is an economic issue. It is our future at stake.

Historically, the leadership of the mainstream environmental movement has tended to be mostly white, and mostly people of affluence. This leaves out some of the groups of people most affected by environmental degradation, like communities of colour, whose leadership in the struggle to create a more sustainable planet continues to be marginalized. Furthermore, racism, sexism, classism, transphobia, ableism and heterosexism (among other things) are just as harmful to our human environment as is its physical degradation. Oppression separates us and prevents certain people's voices from being heard, ultimately limiting the scope of our victories in creating a more sustainable and just world.

At the Atlantic Eco-Warrior Training, we are looking to give people the skills they need and want to become warriors in the climate justice movement. We want to enable participants to identify issues in their communities, make an action plan, and solve the problem. This includes connecting participants with useful contacts in their area and across the country, enabling them to communicate with current and potential allies, and get their voices heard in independent and mainstream media.

Sierra Youth Coalition

The Sierra Youth Coalition (SYC) is the youth branch of the Sierra Club of Canada. Run by youth, for youth, across the country, SYC advocates for a just and sustainable society, while building it right now in over 80 schools, campuses and communities. Details and application forms can be found on the the Sierra Youth Coalition’s website, www.syc-cjs.org/yag.

Canadian Youth Climate Coalition

The Canadian Youth Climate Coalition is a united front of youth from across Canada tackling the biggest challenge of our generation, the climate crisis. Acting locally, provincially, federally, and internationally, we combine our forces to educate and empower youth. We organize campaigns and actions to create the change the need to see in the world. Working in schools and communities from coast to coast to coast, we are calling for and building a just and prosperous transition to the new Canada we all need to see. This is our future, it’s too important to leave up to anyone else.

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