Vegreville Composite High students and their school liaisons meet with keynote speaker Colin Angus at the 13th annual Regenerate Forest and Wildlife Youth Summit.

Sherwood Park, AB. — In March, Vegreville Composite High was chosen as one of 20 high schools in Alberta to attend the 13th annual Regenerate Forest and Wildlife Youth Summit. “The summit was so amazing and memorable,” says Layne Lowes, a Grade 11 student at Vegreville Composite. “You get to learn about so many new experiences and opportunities in the forestry industry and what you can do to help the forest environment.”

Hosted by Inside Education, the summit takes place over four days in the mountainous and forest-rich Canmore, Alberta. Students from the school took part in interactive workshops, field tours and unique opportunities to learn with and from Alberta’s leaders in forestry and wildlife, not to mention connecting with peers from across the province.

“A goal in teaching should be to provide meaningful learning opportunities for students,” says Andrew MacLean, the Off-Campus Facilitator and Environmental Stewardship Teacher at Vegreville Composite. “The Inside Education team was amazing, and they alone were a huge highlight for students. On the first day, Elder Heather Poitras welcomed us. Students then had an amazing time learning from the keynote speaker Colin Angus and all the different presenters, especially those from the Alberta Fish and Wildlife Stewardship, Alberta Forest Products Association, Alberta Forestry and Parks, Cenovus Energy, NorQuest College and TC Energy. I was blown away with the amazing opportunities shared with us. Students had the chance to learn about emerging careers, post-secondary opportunities and get hands-on experience in these fields.”

Vegreville Composite students explored sustainable forest management, forestry innovations and climate change, while also delving into wildlife and habitat research. The summit discussed current and emerging issues surrounding forestry and wildlife, providing examples of what green energy production looks like. Students were equipped with practical solutions they can employ at their school and within their community.

“It was a once-in-a-lifetime educational opportunity,” says Lauren Conner, a Grade 11 student at Vegreville Composite. “I learned so much about careers and my impact as an individual.”

Elk Island Public Schools is one of Alberta’s largest school divisions, serving approximately 17,750 students in 42 schools. We are proud to be an integral part of our communities, including Sherwood Park, Fort Saskatchewan, Vegreville, Strathcona and Lamont counties, and the western portion of the County of Minburn.

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For more information, media can contact:
Laura McNabb, Director, Communication Services, EIPS 780-417-8204 cell 780-405-4902