Environment Canterbury is joining with the Enviroschools Foundation in launching the Regeneration Summer Jam event on Monday, January 11.
The event marks the beginning of a five day summer camp where a hundred like minded young people from all over the country will come together at Living Springs to work out the biggest difference they can make to create more sustainable communities.
Environment Canterbury chair Alec Neill said that the regional council has supported the Enviroschools programme in the region since 2004 and is proud to support a national event such as this to help nurture and support potential leaders of the future.
"Environment Canterbury, in partnership with territorial authorities, supports the delivery of the Enviroschool programme locally. There are many outstanding examples of students in local Enviroschools working with their school communities to create a more sustainable future and this is a great opportunity for those students to work together and share ideas," said Cr Neill.
"Seeing so many young people committed to making a difference in their communities makes me optimistic about the future", said Selwyn/Banks Peninsula councillor Eugenie Sage.
The youth, aged from 15-25 years, will be involved in five days of inspiration and action including workshops and skill sessions on public speaking, forming partnerships, working with the media, youth health, leadership and business skills. There will also be time devoted to regional action planning.
"This event is about youth connecting with others to develop skills and confidence to step up, represent and take action in their region to another level," says Billy Matheson of The Enviroschools Foundation.
Media are invited to the opening of The Enviroschools Regeneration Summer Jam on Monday, January 11 at 9.00am at Living Springs, Bamfords Rd, Governors Bay.
Environment Canterbury chair Alec Neill will be speaking at the event and Cr Eugenie Sage and Christchurch City Cr Yani Johanson will also be in attendance. Those wishing to attend the event should contact Mr Matheson beforehand.
There will be a welcoming ceremony commencing at 9.00am including short speeches by invited VIP's followed by morning tea.
For more information on the Regeneration event: Billy Matheson, Enviroschools 021 688770.
Environment Canterbury Chair Alec Neill, 027 440 3731.
Councillor Eugenie Sage, Selwyn/Banks Peninsula, (03) 329 3177, 021 553 937
Background information - Enviroschools ReGeneration Event
Environment Canterbury is a major partner and funder of the Enviroschools programme in the Canterbury region. The programme has been in operation since 2004 and now runs in 56 schools across the region. Two of those schools recently received a Green-Gold award, the first in the South Island and the first Early Childhood Centre in New Zealand. There are over 40 schools waiting to join.
Enviroschools Canterbury is a partnership between The Enviroschools Foundation and Christchurch City Council, Environment Canterbury, Department of Conservation, Waimakariri, Kaikoura, Timaru, and Selwyn District Councils. A regional team offers support to schools and their communities across Canterbury in the journey to become a sustainable school community.
Enviroschools / Kura Taiao is about the well-being of the whole school, community and eco-system. It’s about working out how to live so that our society and economy nourishes the natural systems that give us life. Enviroschools gives young people an opportunity to explore real life challenges and to apply their abundance of energy and ideas. The approach is to build a network of schools/kura committed to environmental learning, action and creating sustainable communities.