STUDENT PROJECTS CELEBRATED AT ROYAL SASKATCHEWAN MUSEUM

Teams of students from Regina area high schools will be celebrating projects about sustainability today at a conference at the Royal Saskatchewan Museum (RSM). There will also be a new crop of students from Regina and Moose Jaw districts in attendance to launch another round of projects.

Today's event will feature reports from student teams, including students who tackled a major landscaping project in Lumsden, and details about the Craik Eco-Village from Craik Mayor Rod Haugerud.

"The Youth Forum combines youth development with the museum's expertise on sustainability education to give students a unique and exciting opportunity," Culture, Youth and Recreation Minister Joan Beatty said. "As part of a plan for a green and prosperous economy, we are recognizing and celebrating how students, institutions, and communities are working together toward social justice, economic prosperity and the protection of our natural environment."

These groups of students are participating in this Youth Forum on Sustainability organized by the RSM in partnership with the Department of Learning, the City of Regina, SaskEnergy, the Faculty of Education at the University of Regina, the Saskatchewan Science Centre, and a non-government organization called Learning for a Sustainable Future.

"All our partners recognize that sustainable communities require knowledgeable citizens willing to acknowledge the significance and impacts of their choices and actions," RSM curator and Youth Forum Steering Committee Chair Dr. Glenn Sutter said. "The Forum gives students a chance to take action through projects that touch on all aspects of sustainability and that make a real difference to their communities."

In 2002, the RSM was recognized as a national leader in sustainability education by the Canadian Network for Environmental Education and Communication (EECOM). The Museum received an award of excellence for the design and content of its Life Sciences Gallery, especially a series of permanent exhibits called The Human Factor.

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For More Information, Contact:

Penny Pedersen Royal Saskatchewan Museum Regina Phone: (306) 787-2850