April 21, 2022,
Written by AYLEE Member Maya O.
As someone who loves the environment, and has been involved with environmental activism for years now, I was very excited when my biology teacher informed me about an opportunity to present at Ever Active Schools’ “Shaping the Future” 2022 Conference.
Our goal going in was to craft a presentation that would teach teachers about the importance of environmental education, as well as organizations (like AYLEE) where students can use their passion to create change. I was lucky enough to present with two of my classmates Luke and Ben, who discussed the positive impact that Robert Thirsk’s natural resources class has had on them. My part of the presentation was centered around AYLEE, and all the amazing opportunities I’ve had to use my voice, learn from others, and take action. I also talked about the soft skills AYLEE has given me, allowing me to communicate and collaborate with others.
A large part of my presentation was diving into the AYLEE survey and White Paper, which I found very empowering. By showing the teachers the survey and paper, I felt like my ideas were real and tangible. Additionally, it was nice to have data and writing to back up my words.
Although the presentation was a lot of fun, I also just enjoyed being part of the conference. Listening to the keynote speaker was very inspiring, and I also viewed a presentation led by fellow AYLEE members from Lacombe Composite Highschool! It was very cool and inspiring to see all the stuff they’re up to (I also bought some of their jam which was delicious).
Overall, I had a great time at the conference. Not only did I get to share my thoughts, ideas, and experiences with teachers, but I was able to learn in a fun and engaging way. I was also very glad to represent AYLEE, and tell teachers all about how amazing it is. I’m so thankful for the opportunity, and am hoping the teachers I presented to can bring some of the things they learned back to their classrooms and administrators!
From left to right, AYLEE members Taylor, Maya, Xailen, and James