Wilderness Chick

Vanessa Lee interpreted this gorgeous river slough

Vanessa Lee is leader of interpretation of Metro Vancouver Regional Parks, and a keynote speaker for Plan-it earth 2011.  She led an interpretive canoe trip after the EEPSA  meeting.  This group of BC environmental educators hold their meetings outdoors.  Today's was at Deas Island, a 5 minute drive from the city.  Our paddles dipped into green waters surrounded by cattails, eelgrass, skunk cabbage.  Sounds of red-wing blackbird, woodpeckers, marsh wren, eagle.  We passed an eagle looking sternly at us as we examined its nest. It was so close, we could see the white feathers on its head.  Herons fished in the reeds.   We floated by the wreck of a rum runner.  Under the bridge, we heard the roar of cars speeding towards the city, their occupants unaware of the biodiversity below them.

wreck of a rum runner dating back to the time of US prohibition.

Plan-It Earth, planned by youth for youth

200 people were in attendance at Plan -it Earth 2011 on April 15th.  This event enabled 120 youth to draw, write and describe their sustainable region.  Planned by a core group of five dedicated youth and an action team of about 30 students, all from Churchill, Prince of Wales, St. Pats and Kitsilano Secondaries. Participants came from throughout Vancouver, and we warmly welcomed the presence of Windermere Secondary and Magee Secondary youth leadership groups. Students from David Lloyd George Elementary attended the Children's program.  Plan-it earth was a collaboration of Vancouver youth with a passion for the environment.  This event was hosted once again by Prince of Wales Secondary.  Thanks  PW admin team!

We are very grateful for support from Bruce Ford and Vanessa Lee (Metro Vancouver); from Amanda Mitchell (the City of Vancouver); from Kevin Millsip, (sustainability coordinator, VSB)  and Stanley King from the Co-Design Group who donated facilitation services.  We accepted funding, with thanks from  Architecture Canada: The Royal Architectural Institute of Canada, the Vancouver Foundation Youth Philanthropy Council, and the Vancouver School Board through Kevin Millsip's project eco-logo contest.

Tesicca, youth co-design artist, plan-it earth core team

day in the life of a sustainable region

day in the life graffiti wall

Stanley King, The Co-Design Group, and Architecture Canada (RAIC) representative

Britannia Garden Club students win Queen of Green most unique project

all photos by Ian Marcuse, Grandview Woodland Food Connection

An earth day parade organized by youth for youth converged on Britannia Secondary.  Britannia Garden Club was awarded the Queen of Green award, amongst other awards, for most unique project!   Project BUG 's  design participation was a big part of this.  Youth members of the garden club made seed bombs beside their co-design drawings.  Congratulations to the dedicated students involved, and to Ian Marcuse, community organizer of GWFC.   Check out this inspiring Earth day event.

Flickr set of photos for project BUG's display here  and video of the parade here

Bridging the generation Gap

North shore news featured youth co-design in West Vancouver:

"Through outreach, the co-design process adopted by Grosvenor attempts to bring in voices from different demographics, says Michael Mortensen, Grosvenor Americas’s senior development manager. It’s a unique opportunity for youth to be involved in a process that usually takes place among adults.  Co-design forums were pioneered by Vancouver architect Stanley King, who is leading the Ambleside forums. He created the concept while working on Granville Island and Robson Square.

In the end, the youths’ ideas became a big part of Vancouver’s identity. It was their suggestion to place a skating rink in Robson Square; famous West Vancouver architect Arthur Erickson was inspired by their sketches filled with greenery when designing the provincial courts."

Full article here:  "Bridging the Generation Gap" by   Rebecca Aldrous, North Shore outook

Project BUG Digital Story

Grandview Woodland Food Connection put together a draft slideshow on Project BUG part 1 .  Stanley narrated this, summarizing the co-design process in a nutshell.  We are privileged to be a part of this process which is a collaboration between GWFC, UBC SCARP students and Co-Design. The purpose is to design a food garden and to demonstrate a participitory design process.