Hosted by the Community Environmental Leadership Program (CELP) and planned by Grade 10 CELP students, Clima-Con 2025 welcomed Grade 9 Geography students from Centennial CVI, Guelph CVI, and John F. Ross CVI to the University of Guelph Arboretum on November 13 for a day of fun learning.
The weather was fitting for the topic, as the morning started with a mix of rain, snow, and hail. That didn’t stop the students from getting hands-on at eight activity stations, half of which were located outside. The stations included identifying native trees and species and learning about food waste, among other things.
"Being there and finding a group of people who care just as much as you do and want to make a change is very empowering and inspiring and gives so much hope for the future," one student said.
"Clima-Con is at its core an opportunity to empower youth, teaching them about how they can act on climate change, showing them that they are not alone, and bringing them much-needed hope for their futures," another student said.
Points were awarded to the teams during the activities for the chance to win one of three gift baskets.
Clima-Con 2025 was funded by the Youth Climate Action Grant from the City of Guelph.