Future Leaders is our environmental education program for students, teachers and youth of the Bow Valley. We…
COLLABORATE with K-12 teachers, Indigenous Elders and community members to provide formal and non-formal educational programming in the Bow Valley
CONNECT students to environmental learning on topics such as ecology, climate change and wildlife.
EMPOWER youth through environmental action projects based in the community
Rain barrels + Youth
On Saturday, March 16, youth participants of the Canadian Rockies Youth Summit joined the Biosphere Institute of the Bow Valley for a rain barrel workshop. As part of the theme “Waves of Change”, the 30+ youth participants from across southern Alberta learned about water and sustainability in Alberta. Alberta continues to experience drought conditions throughout much of the province with a large region of Extreme (D3) to Exceptional Drought (D4) remaining in the southern portion of the province and we’re not even into the summer season yet. This heavy topic weighs on each of us to play our part. Rain barrels is one way we can support water conservation at home! Here are additional resources to support water conservation: Government of Alberta recommendations and additional tips (from south of the border, but still valid).
A huge thanks to Rocky Mountain Soap Co. for donating the barrels, Valley Decorating and Paint Supply Centre, Wild Life Distillery and Canmore Home Hardware for helping us with materials and services. If you’re interested in purchasing or creating your own rain barrel, check out this how-to link here or contact education@biosphereinstitute.org
Teens on Transit
In the fall of 2023, the Future Leaders Youth Council visited the ROAM Transit Hub in Banff. The Transit Hub and ROAM Transit is an excellent example of sustainability in the Bow Valley. The youth learned about how the Transit Hub is heated from the biomass heating facility across the street in Banff’s industrial park, outfitted with a solar array of 680 panels that power 3 electric busses in the summer months. There were roughly 1.4 million visitors and residents who took local public transit in 2023! That’s more than the entire population of Calgary!!
In support of more people integrating the incredible ROAM public transit into their daily lives, the Youth Council created a fun video to promote Teens on Transit. Thanks to Pinetree Players and Snap Beauty Mirrors for the costumes! And a huge thanks to ROAM Transit for letting us tour the facilities and even try out the bus simulator!
buffalo dialogue
A day of sharing and learning about tatâga/iiníí at the Whyte Museum of the Canadian Rockies with Mînî Thnî Community School and the International Buffalo Relations Institute.
In October, Future Leaders taught the Gr9s from MTCS about biodiversity and the role Bison play in the ecosystem; but this is only one side of the Bison’s story. To enhance the learning, the students visited the Whyte Museum archives in Mînî rhpa (Banff), learned about their family and community history, played in the snow, ate Bison stew and participated in a Buffalo Dialogue. During the Dialogue, Dr. Leroy Littlebear and Amethyst Firstrider of the Blood tribe, Blackfoot Confederacy, shared the importance the Bison play in both ecological and cultural health.
We would like to extend a heartfelt thank you, îsnîyes to Travis Rider of Stoney Nation for sharing his knowledge in history, land-based teaching and language. With hand over heart, we extend thanks to Amethyst Firstrider and Dr. Leroy Littlebear for sharing their invaluable smiles and stories. Thanks also to the support from the Whyte Museum and the International Buffalo Relations Institute! We have much to learn - stay tuned for more stew, stories and collaboration!
WildSmart Director, Nick de Ruyter, and École Nôtre Dame des Monts Grade 7 students learn how to use bear spray and respect wildlife.
Wildlife safety training
Together with the WildSmart program, Future Leaders continues to deliver relevant human-widllife safety programs. Especially in light of recent black bear euthanizations and grizzly bear attacks in Banff National Park, it is imperative that the youth of today understand how to safely recreate and coexist with wildlife.
Arianna Brown presenting about the importance of taking care of human health whilst navigating the climate crisis
Accelerating climate action
The Biosphere Institute of the Bow Valley hosted a climate conference on October 11th, 2023 at the Coast Hotel in Canmore. As part of the event, youth from Our Lady of the Snows Catholic Academy and Future Leaders Youth Council presented on their energy audit and climate action projects such as solar panel installations on schools and improved public transportation initiatives they would like to see furthered in Canmore.
Stay tuned to @future.leaders.biosphere on Instagram for up to date events and initiatives that result from this conference!
Ko Ueno of the Future Leaders Youth Council and event volunteer
quarry park wetland cleanup
On September 20th, a group of keen youth took to the trails and wetlands of Quarry Lake Park to cleanup rusted barbed wire. The team of volunteers weren’t deterred by the pouring rain and removed approximately 20lbs of barbed wire! The wetland area is frequently used by elk, deer, bears as well as children and dogs. The clean up improved habitat for all!
Thank you to the Alberta Conservation Association for supporting the project and TransAlta for providing us with bins for proper waste disposal.
Town of Banff Bylaw services and Parks Canada kept the event safe alongside participants in Banff Middle Springs.
yellow fish road project
In support of clean freshwater, the Yellow Fish Road is a community initiative of painting yellow fish near storm drains and educating residents about proper pollutant disposal. Over 30 participating children, youth and families in Banff and Canmore painted fish and handed out door handle hangers about proper waste disposal. Remember, there is no water treatment for storm water therefore RAIN ONLY down your storm drain.
Thank you to the Town of Banff, Town of Canmore, Parks Canada, Bow Valley Decorating and the Alberta Conservation Association for supporting the initiative!
Future Leaders Youth Council and Rob Murray of MountainFM
‘Trash Talks’ on Mountain FM
May-June, 2023 - The waste and recycling research of the Future Leaders Youth Council culminated in 4 radio segments that aired in June 2023 on Mountain FM. Listen below to understand the connections of waste to wildlife, climate and humans. Thank you to Rob Murray and Mountain FM for supporting this project!
Simon Robins with the Town of Canmore, Future Leaders Youth Council
Waste FACILITY TOUR
April, 2022 - As part of the Future Leaders Youth Council’s upcoming public education campaign about proper waste management, we visited the Town of Canmore’s solid waste treatment facility. Among many other things, we learned that according to a garbage survey in 2019, about 2/3 of every garbage disposal belongs in either organic waste or recycling streams - NOT in the garbage. We are creating radio messaging to remind people of the negative impact this has on greenhouse gas emissions and wildlife habitat.
buffalo dialogue invitation
May, 2023 - In partnership with the International Buffalo Relations Institute, we are excited to invite students Exshaw and Mînî Thnî to join the Buffalo Dialogue at the Whyte Museum in Banff on September 12, 2023. Students will be encouraged to continue their learning and connection by sharing the teachings of the Buffalo heir homes and communities as ‘Buffalo Runners’.
WAYS OF TATÂGA (BISON)
March-May, 2023 - Grade 5 students from Banff, Canmore, Exshaw and Mînî Thnî learned about the cultural and ecological significance of the Bison. Tied to the Grade 5 Social Studies curriculum, the students gathered for a field day at Star 6 ranch in May to share their learning. The Îyarhe Nakoda Elders and Knowledge Keepers shared their traditional knowledge and lessons of the ways of tatâga (bison). Sharing cultures and knowledge is a positive step towards Truth and Reconciliation.
Future leaders YOUTH COUNCIL
October, 2023 - A group of local youth established themselves as the ‘Future Leaders Youth Council’ and are learning about local waste management, climate change and human-wildlife coexistence topics to inform action projects. Keep an ear out for an upcoming radio series aimed at informing the public on common waste management myths!
Tatâga edukit translations
The Stoney Education Authority supported the Land-based learning team at Nakoda Elementary School to bring in a group of Elders and Knowledge Keepers to help translate the Biosphere Institute’s bison (tatâga) EduKit resources into the Îyethka (Stoney) language.
Place-Making mural
The Banff Elementary School Grade 7 students collaborated with the Kindergarten class to create panels representing ‘what this place means to them’. Each student pairing created a panel that was pasted together for a greater mural that can now be found in the Banff Elementary School ‘Bear Den’ common place!
2023 Canadian rockies Youth network summit
Future Leaders facilitated a workshop at the Canadian Rockies Youth Network in March, 2023. Alongside 30 youth from Alberta and BC, we facilitated learning about bison as a keystone species and the importance of grounded research when navigating today’s media.
Invasive plant species removal
In the fall of 2022, Grade 11 students from Canmore Collegiate High school participated in yellow-clematis removal supported by the Town of Canmore. Upon learning about biodiversity and native plant species in Biology 20, Future Leaders supported students in the invasive species removal to promote native plant growth.
2021 CANADIAN ROCKIES YOUTH NETWORK AND SUMMIT
The 2021 Canadian Rockies Youth Summit brought together high school students from Banff, Calgary, Canmore, and the Stoney Nakoda First Nation.
Students designed and carried out projects that tangibly advance biodiversity conservation objectives in their communities, while promoting peer-to-peer learning and exchange between students and diverse conservation professionals.
sign and commit
The way we treat ourselves translates into how we treat our neighbours and the natural world. Action begins with you!
Read and sign the Nature Pledge to begin a journey of respect and personal accountability.
