“We are all stewards of the earth, not owners. By participating in this program, I am helping improve my tiny corner of the earth and spread awareness to others.”
Serena, Fall 2021 alum
This past fall students from across Hamilton came together to participate in Green Venture’s Youth Stewardship and Professional Skills Program. Previously, students ventured into the forest to learn about urban forestry; this time we weathered a new storm. During the 12 week program students developed transferable professional skills, earned community involvement hours, and gained knowledge of Hamilton’s stormwater systems and how to combat climate change through natural solutions.
Students met once a week from October – December to learn first-hand from members of the Green Venture team and professionals in the field of stormwater management and green infrastructure. They received career advice, learned professional skills, and gained knowledge of stormwater and green infrastructure. A shout out to our amazing guest speakers, whose time, energy, knowledge, and passion were instrumental in creating a meaningful, engaging experience for participating students:
Students teamed up to create projects that encourage ways to manage Hamilton’s stormwater to create a more resilient city for all. We thoroughly enjoyed supporting them through the process and were so pleased with how their projects turned out! Here are their projects:
Group 1 - Rain Gardens in Hamilton
This group wanted to reach more residents in Hamilton and encourage the adoption of rain gardens. The group developed a presentation that outlined the importance of rain gardens in the face of extreme weather and flooding due to climate change. Rain gardens are a great solution to add more green space in Hamilton, helping soak up water and prevent localized flooding. The team developed a brochure for community members to learn more about rain gardens including guides and tips for planting your own. The group also created some social media posts to promote the brochure and get the community thinking about installing rain gardens. We are excited to share their work on our website and social media as we promote the NATURhoods Rebate Program!
Group 2 - Permeability Policies
This group knows that not all landscapes can be naturalized, we still need some hardscaping in our communities for walking, biking and driving. The group put together a presentation that outlines some of the reasoning behind permeable paving and the need to increase permeability in Hamilton as a way to restore the hydrological cycle. They also outlined the types of permeable surfaces and costs. The group developed a work plan to develop a permeable tax pitch to reduce the amount of impermeable surfaces in Hamilton and activities to demonstrate the importance of permeable surfaces. Some students are still working on this project and hope to develop some educational materials to share in the future! We are excited to share these resources one day!
What’s Next?
Some projects will continue evolving – we hope to check back in with our students and share what they have learned and accomplished.
This stewardship program was supported by Green Venture’s NATURhoods program with funding from the Ontario Trillium Foundation and fundraising from our Native Plant Club in 2021. Thank you for your support!
Rethink to Reduce Waste!
Join our next Youth Stewardship and Professional Skills Program as we learn how to reduce waste in Hamilton and create stewardship opportunities that keep our city clean! Starting the week of February 28th we will be offering the program from 4:30 PM – 6 PM weekly. Apply before February 18th.
