What Was It All About?
The CARE Summit December 2022 included more than 160 students from grades 7-12 who created 42 climate-action projects. More than 300 people attended the event.
The Summit featured inspirational stories from youth activist and entrepreneur Olive Butler (founder of Conspiracy Cosmetics) and the City of Vernon’s climate action implementation coordinator Brendan Riome, who shared information about diverse job opportunities in the climate-action field.
Nine judges from the public, private, and non-profit sectors selected winning projects based on a variety of social, environmental, and economic factors, potential community impacts, mentor interactions, and the teams’ display and presentation skills.
CARE also introduced awards judged and presented by Students Without Borders Academy, including Most Inspiring Project, Most Innovative Display, Biggest Hurdle Overcome, and Best Dressed Team.
FOF thanks the following for their funding support: School District 22, City of Vernon, Community Foundation of North Okanagan, FortisBC, Associated Environmental Consultants Inc., Sperling & Hansen Associates, McElhanney, and Concept Physiotherapy & Massage.
Thank you as well to our in-kind contributors: Roost Solar, Hawthorn Farm Studio, Nature’s Fare, Cobs Bread, Planet Bee Honey Farm, Davison Orchards, Marble Slab Creamery, O’Keefe Historic Ranch, Big Sun Beachwear & Tanning, Cotton’s Chocolates, and Kohler.
Overall Winners
Senior (Grades 10-12)
First Place: TRANSIT FOR TEENS - Jade Ha, Haylee Andal - Fulton Secondary School
Second Place: CACTUS CLUB FOOD WASTE - Clara Jolie, Clowie Chatto, Geillan Mace, Tana Foss - Fulton Secondary School
Third Place: BUGS & BLOSSOMS - Jaida Correia, Alex Simms, Makayla Barker - Seaton Secondary School
Overall Winners
Junior (Grades 7-9)
First Place: T-TOTES - Isabell Hull, Claire Weathermon, Rylee Marchand - Seaton Secondary School
Second Place: FROM FOOD TO HEALTHY FOOD FOR SCHOOLS - Jillian Bevan, Brooklynn Schibli, Zoe Milliken, Brielle Baird - Charles Bloom Secondary School
Third Place: RUBBER BOOT GARDEN - Isabelle Pelentsov, Sierra Sidwell - Charles Bloom Secondary School
Category Winners
Nature & Biodiversity: Bugs & Blooms, Seaton Secondary
Agriculture & Food: Vertical Gardens for Urban Living, Vernon Secondary
Energy & Buildings: Solar for VSS, Vernon Secondary
Waste Reduction: Cactus Club Food Waste, Fulton Secondary
Eco-Friendly Transportation: Transit 4 Teens, Fulton Secondary
Human Health & Culture: ReConnect, Seaton Secondary
Student Projects
AIAO (Awaken Inquiry & Adventure Okanagan)
Teachers: Caitlin McMahon, Rob Buchannon
Grades 7-12 Environmental Science, Social Studies, Art
Charles Bloom Secondary School
Teacher: Janine Allen
Grade 8
Fulton Secondary School
Teacher: Connor Podmorrow
Grade 11 Social Studies
Fulton Secondary School
Teacher: Dan Curtis
Grade 11 Social Studies
Fulton Secondary School
Teacher: Emily McDougall
Grades 11 Earth Science, 12 Geology
Fulton Secondary School
Teacher: Janine Arnold
Grades 11 Biology
Fulton Secondary School
Teacher: Melissa Reeves
Grade11/12 English First Peoples
Kalamalka Secondary School
Teacher: Meg Irwin
Grade 10 Foods
Seaton Secondary School
Teacher: Ellen Thomas
Grade 8 Humanities, Grade 12 English First Peoples
Seaton Secondary School
Teacher: Shelby Trenaman
Grade 11 Social Studies
Seaton Secondary School
Teacher: Yvonne Fiala
Grade 8 Humanities (French Immersion)
School District 22 Student Climate Trustees
Teacher: Rhiannon Brunello
Vernon Secondary School
Teacher: Leon Kopy
Grade 12 Sustainable Futures