Local students are showing their CARE for the environment, and fellow humans in need.
Join about 600 high-school teachers, students, mentors, judges, and exhibitors from Vernon, Lumby, and the Central Okanagan to celebrate community climate action at the CARE Expo Thursday, May 29 from 9:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Vernon Curling Club.
This is the fourth expo for CARE (Climate Action Ripple Effect) in Vernon, but the first with students from School District 23 participating. Guests will enjoy about 150 student project displays, 25 climate-focused exhibitors from government and business, the Hillview Hall of Hope photo gallery, an Alexis Park choir, eco-friendly door prizes, and local food trucks.
One special project, called CARE Bags, will be on display in the judging area, where 33 teams will compete for CARE Community Impact Awards. Winners will receive cash prizes to help implement their projects in their communities.
CARE Bags are the brainchild of George Elliot Secondary students Jayda Ross and Carter Mochinski, who outfitted 20 backpacks with essentials such as hygiene products, food, and extras such as a sustainable metal water bottles.
Co-mentored by Vernon Coun. Kelly Fehr, along with harm reduction coordinator Maddy Watson from the Cammy LaFleur Outreach Program, Ross and Mochinski distributed the backpacks to outreach clients at Polson Park and other Vernon locations last week. Support for these unhoused clients is increasingly important as climate change brings extreme temperatures and emergency events such as wildfires.
鈥淲e learned so much doing this CARE project,鈥� said Mochinski, 鈥渆verything from budgeting, to how many people need help, to shopping wisely.鈥�
Ross noticed that 鈥渢here were mental health benefits for all involved, including us.鈥�
The team鈥檚 grade 11/12 AP Passion to Action teacher Marnie Birkeland has been looking for something like CARE for a long time.
鈥淏y engaging with community, students learn to use their superpowers to help other people,鈥� Birkeland said.
For more information about the CARE Expo, please contact jo@freshoutlookfoundation.org
