Youth Climate Action Fund

Guided nature walks in The Blue Mountains featuring climate change-related education and involving youth participants in litter cleanup activities, supported by Bagida’waad Alliance.

An Envirothon student group at St. Mary’s High School in Owen Sound will identify and pursue climate change education opportunities through field trips and will share what they learn with other students.

A Master’s student working with the University of Guelph and Parks Canada will use water level loggers and satellite data to research the impacts of climate change on inland lakes, and will share information about the research design and preliminary results with other youth.

A high school student supported by Beaver Valley Outreach and Climate Action Now Network will engage other youth in the design and planting of a tiny forest on a parcel of land in The Blue Mountains.

Two post-secondary students will film a series of short videos featuring local and regional climate change initiatives, stories and experiences to help foster a sense of environmental stewardship and community pride.

The videos can be seen here:

• Episode 1: Circular Economy
• Episode 2: Sustainable Agriculture
   

A post-secondary student will coordinate a year-end event that will bring youth together with organizations and businesses in the environmental and sustainability sector.

A post-secondary student and recent graduate will investigate the possibility of using naturally sourced pigments and alternative casing solutions for a more sustainable marker. 

Participants and youth leaders with Events for Life will learn about climate change from local leaders, and will collaborate to document and share what they learn through monthly newsletters.

Every YCAF microgrant project must help mitigate climate change and/or help with adaptation to climate change. Your project might do both! 

Climate change mitigation: preventing or reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, or enhancing carbon sinks, to reduce the impacts of climate change. A few examples include:

• Transitioning away from fossil fuel consumption to prevent new GHG emissions; for example, installing e-bike chargers at school or creation of a model house demonstrating beneficial electrification that can be taken school-to-school.
• Encouraging energy efficient practices, which reduces GHG emissions; for example, an awareness campaign to change behaviours at home.
• Planting and stewarding trees and forests, which helps to absorb atmospheric carbon; for example, a de-pave and tree planting project on school grounds.
• Raising awareness of the climate crisis by running a performing or visual arts event, perhaps using art exhibitions, music, or short student films

Climate change adaptation: the process of adjusting to the current and future impacts of climate change. A few examples include:

• Educating youth or families on best practices to reduce the risks of climate change, such as from increased extreme heat days and weather events; for example, installing a demonstration rain garden or a youth-led climate resilience workshop for community members.
• Enhancing tree canopy, parks, gardens or other green features to help our communities adapt; for example, starting a new community food garden or removing litter and trash from waterways and the natural environment.
• Improving social connectivity and building community-level resilience, especially for vulnerable community members and youth; for example, by creating a youth advisory group to support climate-related decision-making in local government. 

Showing alignment with climate change-related initiatives and priorities within The Blue Mountains Future Story (the Town’s sustainability plan) and/or Going Green in Grey (Grey County’s Climate Change Action Plan) will help your application be successful. 

To determine whether the project meets the basic eligibility requirements for the Youth Climate Action Fund it must fulfill the following criteria: 

1. The Project is primarily led and implemented by youth between the ages of 15 and 24.
2. The organization proposing the project, or that is sponsoring a youth-led project team, is formally incorporated and has a bank account that can be used to accept and distribute funds for eligible project expenses.
3. The application is complete.
4. The proposed project must be a new initiative; YCAF cannot fund existing programs.
5. The expenses in the proposed budget align with the eligibility criteria of the Youth Climate Action Fund.
6. The project demonstrates that it supports The Blue Mountains Future Story (the Town’s sustainability plan) and/or Going Green in Grey (Grey County’s Climate Change Action Plan).
7. The project is implemented within the Traditional Territory of the Saugeen Ojibway Nation. This includes The Blue Mountains and other municipalities in Grey County; Southern Georgian Bay communities (Collingwood, Clearview, and Wasaga Beach); Chippewas of Nawash Unceded First Nation; Chippewas of Saugeen First Nation; Bruce County; and some of the communities within Huron, Wellington and Dufferin Counties. If you are not sure if your community falls within this territory, please reach out to the Sustainability Coordinator.

The Youth Climate Action Fund is for youth who feel the urgency of climate change and are excited to use a microgrant to raise awareness, engage youth and take steps to address the climate emergency. A willingness to share stories and pictures will be an important part to sharing the impacts that YCAF funds have had and to inspire youth and adults alike in our communities.

Eligible projects may include:

• Youth-led awareness, education, research, and development initiatives, including: youth-led climate education programs; youth climate hackathons; youth-developed climate surveys and research; youth-informed clubs or curriculum; and youth-designed public art and awareness campaigns.
• Youth-driven climate mitigation and adaptation projects, including: youth-led community gardening, tree planting, reforestation, and urban farming campaigns; youth-managed recycling and waste reduction programs; and youth-produced climate resilience workshops and disaster preparedness programs.
• Co-governed youth climate action plans, including: partnerships between city leaders and youth groups to inform climate-related policy ideas, decisions, or actions or the formation of youth climate ambassadors or advisory boards.

The Project Team hosted an informational webinar on Wednesday, June 26, to provide information to interested sponsoring organizations or youth participants. 

A recording of the webinar is available online.

Watch the Webinar

• Applications Open: June 4, 2024
• Application Deadline: There will be two opportunities to submit applications, with the first applications due by July 8, 2024, and a second application opportunity will be due by August 12, 2024. Applicants who begin the process and need assistance prior to July 8 are encouraged to reach out for support. 
• Successful projects announced: August 26, 2024
• Final Project Invoice: December 31, 2024
• Final Report Due: January 31, 2025

• Entity with formal incorporation, structure or status of some kind (not necessarily an NGO or charity), a bank account in its name, and an ability to manage the funds.
• If youth-led groups (two or more people) are not incorporated entities themselves, they may partner with one that serves as the microgrant recipient and fund administrator.
• For-profit businesses and individuals are not eligible.
• One youth-supporting/sponsoring organization can apply on behalf of two or more different youth-led projects. The goal of the YCAF is to support a variety of youth and types of projects, so repeat project types by the same organization may not all receive funding.

• Funds must only be used for the purposes stated in the approved application.
• Projects must be completed, and all funds spent by December 31, 2024.
• The final report must be submitted by January 31, 2025.
• Projects must comply with all applicable laws and regulations.

• Brief description of what activities were undertaken and how the funds were spent.
• Include at least one output and one outcome. 
  • Example output: Numbers of trees planted, or square meters of community gardens created.
  • Example outcome: Reducing the urban heat-island effect, or reducing CO₂ emissions/food miles.
• List of expenditures with descriptions. 
• For projects that will make lasting, visible changes (e.g. tree planting, community garden spaces, public art), please provide before and after pictures. ‘Before’ photos, where applicable, should be included with the microgrant application. For projects that culminate in one or more events (e.g. youth summit, performances), please provide a few pictures illustrating the outputs and/or outcomes of the project as part of the final report. Other media, including posters, video, etc. are also encouraged. 

Eligible expenses can be covered by the YCAF microgrant and should be included in the proposed budget in your project proposal. These include expenses that directly enable the project, such as:

• Time spent by youth on project coordination or management, to a maximum of 40% of the project value.
• Time spent by the sponsoring organization/fiscal lead to provide administrative and/or management support, to a maximum of 10% of the project value.
• Funds to enable youth to participate (e.g. bus fare, per diem for food, gift cards for participation).
• Promotional or event expenses such as ad space or an event venue.
• Supplies for projects such as shovels, paint, plants, printing, etc.
• Professional fees

Compensation for administration, coordination, and management of the project for youth and sponsoring organizations cannot be the majority of the budget. Reminder: all funds must be spent and all project activities completed by December 31, 2024.

The following expenses cannot be covered by the YCAF funding and must not be included in the proposed budget for the project. These include:

• Services covered by existing municipal/governmental initiatives.
• Ongoing operating expenses.
• Expenses that were spent before funding was awarded.
• Rent or utilities. 
• Nonprofit/NGO incorporation fees.
• Honoraria for guest speakers. 
• Improvement projects that primarily serve churches and/or other religious organizations.
• Scholarships or other direct support to individuals or families.
• Partisan political organizations, political candidates, fundraisers, or projects.
• Capital campaigns, endowments, or endowed chairs.
• Events or fundraisers not related to youth climate action.
• Paying down debt.
• Other expenses that cannot be justified as necessary to enable the project’s success, or that do not comply with local laws, by-laws or other regulations.

The Project Team is currently comprised of: 

• Mayor Andrea Matrosovs
• Councillor Gail Ardiel
• Councillor Alex Maxwell 
• Sustainability Coordinator of the Town 
• Communications and Economic Development Coordinator of the Town 
• Meghan Loney, Youth Engagement with Beaver Valley Outreach