“We’re the ones who are taking care of it, we need to make sure that we take care of it properly.”
Danielle Purdy was among the students at the Bow Habitat Station Friday morning. Others in bee shirts and bat suits, all from elementary schools, were presenting what they’ve learned through the Environmental Student Action Challenge (ESAC), a provincially-funded program for students to address and offer solutions to student-identified needs in their community.
Projects shown included facts, photos of students in nature and scale-models.
Purdy, a Grade 6 student, said that within the program, students have learned about foraging and using plants for medicine, among other lessons.
To date, 11 schools have taken part in the program, with 13 classroom-based projects completed.
Throughout the morning, students got to feed a 10-month-old rainbow trout, walk through a mini-science fair and watch a presentation in the auditorium.
Projects presented included themes like protecting pollinators and restoring habitat.
Both the field trip and projects were part of the Environmental Student Action Challenge, an event for students from grade 1-12.
Rebecca Schulz, Minister of Environment and Protected Areas, said that her ministry helps students take their studies to the “real world.”
“Our department provides grants across the province and funding to classrooms so that students can learn about a variety of different environmental challenges and then put that into practice in the real world,” she said.
“It’s really interesting to see what the different grades and age groups bring forward as their projects. But it’s really amazing to see how excited the students get about what they’re learning and the effect that they can have on the world.”
ESAC is an application-based program that takes place throughout the school year. The provincial government provides up to $1,000 per student-led project.
“Throughout their journey, students will document their challenges and successes, exploring a local issue to give them a greater depth of understanding of the world around them. At the end of the school year, students will come together to share their discoveries and celebrate their hard work inspiring others across Alberta to do the same,” the program’s website reads.
Schulz said that as communities continue to grow province-wide, it’s amazing to see future generations take pride in their environment.
“Also looking at species, looking at what species they can find in their very own backyards, and what role they play in the overall ecosystem, and how they can make sure that they’re protecting them,” the minister said.
