BCgreen GAMES I love how BC Green Games really supports grassroots initiatives. It does not enforce a particular approach to sustainability. Instead it supports projects that are already happening at schools and helps celebrate the diversity of ways youth can protect the environment! —Tesicca Truong, Teen Leader Sir Winston Churchill Secondary, Vancouver Table of Contents Introduction and Results 1 Community Involvement 4 Program Manager 4 Presenting Sponsors 4 Core Steering Committee 5 Advisory Committee 6 Youth Advisory Group 6 District Champions 7 Project Milestones 8 Website 8 Registration Period 10 Submission Period 10 Online Voting Period 12 Judging Period 12 Winners 12 Earth Day Celebrations 14 Marketing 16 Events 16 Promotional Material 17 Collateral 17 Web 18 Evaluation 19 Results and Recommendations 25 Appendices 29 FINAL REPORT 20112012 3 Introduction & Results Science World’s BC Green Games is an annual digital media contest designed to encourage K–12 students to document and share their environmental action stories on topics such as energy conservation, transportation, school yard greening, recycling, composting and community stewardship. BC Green Games was initiated by the BC Ministry of Education’s Green Schools Strategy in 2008 and has become a flagship program as a part of their promotional efforts to increase student awareness of environmental issues and their own ability to become local leaders and improve sustainable practices in everyday life. Created and managed by Science World British Columbia, BC Green Games (BCGG) is a high-profile annual success story contest that is unique for establishing a virtual sharing space. This program enables teachers to teach environmental sustainability concepts and inspires students and communities to be more effective, efficient and environmentally responsible for years to come. The primary goal of BC Green Games is to inspire province-wide participation and raise public awareness of the positive change students are making in communities throughout BC. BCGG reaches out to students, parents, teachers, administrators and the general public. FINAL REPORT 2012 1 Thank you so much for organizing such an exciting and meaningful event. Our students were highly motivated, and could not wait to go back to their project every day! Combining creativity and problem solving in an environmental project proved to be a wonderful way to engage students to become responsible global citizens. —Miriam Gil Rodriguez Teacher Sponsor, Cascade Heights Elementary, Burnaby The searchable repository of these student-created, -implemented and -documented environmental action projects—including videos and photo-essays—enables recognition of community mentors and will continue to inspire further student projects. Actions shared in past years of BC Green Games have inspired new projects at schools around British Columbia. This was demonstrated by the submission of updated project stories by several returning teams in the past three years. BC Green Games was designed to be a model for eco-conscious province-wide programming: • Project submissions are shared digitally on the BC Green Games website. • Promotional and collateral materials use few or low-impact resources and are often supplied digitally. • Committee meeting schedules are designed to get the most out of a few key face-to-face sessions followed by phone and email communications. • The majority of communications and promotions are done electronically through email and the BCGG website. FINAL REPORT 2012 2 Number of 110 Submissions School 37 Districts Community 151 Mentors 8,198 Votes Cast March 1–31, 2012 Website Visitors 31,656 August 31, 2011–April 30, 2012 1,075,455+ People Reached by Media Coverage Community Involvement Science World manages BC Green Games with thoughtful input from youth, government, school districts, universities, and science and environmental education community partners. These community stakeholder groups are strategically involved for their expertise and receive high visibility for their contribution to a program with long-standing positive impact in the province. PROGRAM MANAGER Science World British Columbia is a not-for-profit organization that engages British Columbians in science and inspires future science and technology leadership throughout our province. PRESENTING SPONSORS By working with corporate sponsors, the scope of BC Green Games was broadened to more fully meet the needs of participants. Presenting sponsors for the fourth year of the program are: BC Hydro supports, educates and strengthens individuals and communities who share our interest in building a bright and sustainable future for British Columbia through donations, sponsorships, scholarships, community outreach and youth campaigns. FortisBC is an integrated energy solutions provider focused on providing safe and reliable energy, including natural gas, electricity, propane and alternative energy solutions, at the lowest reasonable cost. FortisBC employs more than 2,000 British Columbians and serves approximately 1.1 million customers in more than 135 BC communities. PRIZE SPONSOR Sony Canada FINAL REPORT 2012 4 CORE STEERING COMMITTEE Our core steering committee included key stakeholder and expert groups involved in the development of BC Green Games. The role of this important committee is to review planning and promotional strategies and activities, provide feedback and guidance, and support the program by taking action on specific tasks. The core steering committee includes: Science World British Columbia Pauline Finn, Vice President, Community Engagement Kate Henderson, Digital Outreach and Teacher Support Specialist BC Hydro Mary Ferguson, Manager, BC Hydro School Programs Jen Riske, BC Hydro School Programs FortisBC Jenny Chia, EEC Communications, Education, and Outreach Manager Samantha Collins, Marketing Programs Specialist The Province of British Columbia through the Ministry of Education Connie Cirkony, Education Officer, Curriculum and Assesment Campbell River School District Drew Williams, Teacher ProD Coordinator Cowichan Valley School District Nancy Henry, Teacher Richmond School District Rosalind Poon, Teacher Consultant Science & Sustainability Vancouver Board of Education Kevin Millsip, Sustainability Coordinator What is so terrific is that organizations such as Science World and its sponsors support the hard and cutting-edge work that is being done in environmentally aware classrooms and schools. —Kevin Lyseng, Teacher Sponsor, W.D. Ferris Elementary, Richmond FINAL REPORT 2012 5 AdvisorY COMMITTEE Our advisory committee is valuable for championing BC Green Games to environmental experts and teachers around the province. Their role is to provide input and advice to the core steering committee and to connect the BCGG program with the broader teaching and environmental education community throughout the province. The advisory committee includes: Federal Government • Department of Fisheries and Oceans: Joanne Day, Stream to Sea Provincial Government • Ministry of Environment: Ben Finklestein, Manager Green Communities • Ministry of Energy, Mines and Petroleum Resources: Joy Beauchamp, Coordinator Energy Education Regional Government • Metro Vancouver: Bruce Ford, K–12 Education Coordinator • Fraser Basin Council: Amy Greenwood, Program Coordinator University • Simon Fraser University: David Zandvliet, Associate Professor Science and Environmental Education • Royal Roads University: Rick Kool, Professor/Program Manager Environmental Education and Communication • University of Guelph: Berta Lautens, Student Public Education • Environmental Educator’s Provincial Specialist Association: Patrick Robertson Past President • Richmond School District: Wendy Lim, District Administrator • Vancouver School District: Josee Lebel, Teacher Environmental Non-Governmental Organization • Science World BC: Jo-Ann Coggan, Manager Community Engagement • Wild BC: Kerrie Mortin, Education Coordinator YOUTH AdvisorY GROUP The BCGG youth advisory group is made up of 15 students from five Lower Mainland school districts. Created by youth for youth, the youth advisory group (YAG) was initially developed by a student during one of Science World’s summer Barbara Brink Internships. The BCGG YAG was an opportunity for Metro Vancouver youth to represent their voice during the research and development of BCGG. In year four, the BCGG YAG continued to promote BCGG. YAG was a precursor to a cross-district (Metro Vancouver Youth Sustainability Network) and several inter-district student leadership organizations (Burnaby Youth Sustainability Network, Youth for Climate Justice Now). FINAL REPORT 2012 6 DISTRICT CHAMPIONS To support teachers regionally, the partnership between Science World and school districts continued during year four of BC Green Games. District champions were selected by their school district superintendents, where possible. They acted as a hub for information distribution and assisted in making appropriate connections within their school districts to the various green initiatives, programs and opportunities available to them. During the political climate of the 2011/2012 school year, many district champions were not as effective because of their roles at the school-district level. Those district champions who are practising teachers continued to promote BC Green Games and support fellow teachers throughout the program year. Thanks for the heads up on the deadline. I just got back from a Destination Conservation meeting with several of our