Youth Eco Stewards FAQ’s
Welcome to Youth Eco Stewards, an inspiring environmental volunteer program dedicated to nurturing young leaders aged 12-30 who are passionate about safeguarding our planet’s natural treasures and actively engaging in environmental conservation, habitat restoration, and advocacy.
Before you take your first step toward environmental stewardship with us, here are some frequently asked questions about Youth Eco Stewards to help you get started:
You don’t need any prior experience; just bring your enthusiasm and a willingness to learn! To be eligible to register in the program, you must hold Canadian citizenship, Permanent residency status, or refugee status , and fall within the age range of 12-30. Participation in activities is welcome by all, so please reach out to YES-JIE@canadainvasives.ca for support on finding events near you if you fall outside of these categories.
We appreciate your interest in our program! However, our funding stipulates that participants must be between 12-30 years old. If you fall outside this range, please email us at YES-JIE@canadainvasives.ca and explore alternative ways to engage, such as our free eLearning courses, educational resources or supporting other existing initiatives.
Volunteering with Youth Eco Stewards offers a multitude of benefits, including but not limited to hands-on experience in community projects, project management, invasive species management, restoration, and communications. You’ll make a tangible difference in your community, earn volunteer hours, receive letters of reference, connect with like-minded individuals, build friendships, access training opportunities, and gain employable skills for your future career. You will also have access to mentorship through your program coordinator and other experts in the field to become a leader in your own community, putting your passion into action!
Participants will be encouraged to complete 120 hours of training and activities to officially complete the program. We understand the demands of school and work and offer flexibility and a range of opportunities to accommodate your personal schedule.
Not at all! While field-based events are one way to participate, there are numerous opportunities for creative and remote involvement in environmental and community stewardship. We encourage you to discuss your preferred involvement with your Youth Coordinator.
Of course! We want to remove as many barriers to participating in the program as possible, including travel and any other accommodations you might need! Coordinators will supply food and drink at in-person events.
The more the merrier! We encourage you to join other participant projects or invite your friends / family to take part in the program alongside you and tackle a community project as part of a team!
Great! Contact your regional Youth Engagement Coordinator, who will mentor you and provide resources and support on launching your volunteer project.
Our age requirement is determined by our funding source. However, we offer additional opportunities through our education page and free eLearning courses. We are committed to inclusivity and appreciate your understanding, we’re happy to work with you to support your engagement in stewardship in other ways.
Certainly! Join our Community Science Network to learn how to identify and report invasives, access free video resources, and receive our monthly newsletter. You can also check with your regional invasive species council for upcoming volunteer events.
We strive to offer inclusive programming but must adhere to specific funding requirements. Our team works diligently to secure funds that align with our goals, allowing us to provide these valuable opportunities to youth. Please explore our website for free resources, eLearning courses, and other ways to get involved.
Our official program participants must meet citizenship requirements due to funding restrictions. However, if you fall outside of these requirements we encourage you to reach out to your regional coordinator to connect you with activities and events that are happening near you.
No worries! Providing the gear and equipment you need is part of the support our Youth Eco Steward coordinators offer. For projects with a larger financial cost, our coordinators can provide guidance on securing external funding.
A community service project is any activity that meaningfully contributes to conservation, knowledge/awareness or addresses an issue in your community. There are a near-infinite number of ways for you to approach this – only limited by your creativity! Examples of service projects could be:
- wildlife photography
- conservation art book
- educational song / website
- species at risk poetry
- stand-up comedy event around conservation
- developing an invasive species board game / video game
- social media videos to raise awareness
- the options are endless!