~Wildsight
Wildsight is bringing an innovative new program to Golden this year that harnesses the passion of youth with the power of local action.
Starting this August, a team of young adults will embark on a four-month program to undertake climate action projects such as wildfire resilience, food sustainability, and community engagement through Wildsight’s Youth Climate Corps (YCC).
YCC provides young adults with opportunities to make a difference locally, earn wages, and develop skills to prepare them for meaningful work and engaged citizenship. Crews are mentored by industry experts and work collaboratively with community groups already taking action in various fields. These experiences allow young adults to envision and act on initiatives to mitigate climate change at a local level.
One of the Golden crew’s focus areas will be a wildfire risk reduction project near the baseball diamonds. The Town of Golden and YCC are collaborating to execute this wildfire risk reduction project, demonstrating their commitment to safeguarding the community from the escalating threat of devastating wildfires. The Golden Fire Department is supporting YCC’s efforts by providing specialized training to the crew. The department will also be collaborating with YCC efforts to deliver FireSmart education and resources to the community.
You might also spot the crew supporting local food recovery and sustainability efforts. Working with Goonieland Permaculture Farm, Dirtbag Headquarters, and the Golden Food Bank, crew members will gain a deeper understanding of local food systems, food waste, and burgeoning solutions as they do hands-on work.
Several other projects set for the season include beaver site surveying with local biologist Annette Lutterman to better understand previously occupied sites, community engagement to
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inform opportunities for a community composting system in partnership with the Columbia Shuswap Regional District, environmental education facilitating and potentially more.
YCC Golden crew coordinator Kiana Froese has been working to build an educational season for this inaugural Golden crew, and provide tangible benefits to the Golden community in the process.
“I am so honoured to help bring the Youth Climate Corps to the Town of Golden this August,” exclaims Froese. “Not only will this program empower dedicated and passionate individuals to tackle climate-action work, but it will also provide opportunities for the community, I have learned to call home, to come together to learn and grow. Together, we can actively address climate change and work towards a more resilient future for Golden.”
Wildsight’s YCC launched its pilot season in Nelson in 2020, expanding to Kimberley/Cranbrook as well in 2021. As climate change places increasing pressure on our global, regional and local ecosystems and communities, the need to respond with meaningful action could not be more pressing. Harnessing the energy and ambition of young adults, the Youth Climate Corps empowers young adults to inspire and implement solutions to the climate crisis through employment, training and leadership development. Wildsight is currently hiring for both a crew leader and climate action technicians for the Golden crew. If you are interested, or want to learn more about Wildsight’s Youth Climate Corps, visit wildsight.ca/ycc/youth-climate-corps-golden/.
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