MUSEUM HOSTS ROUND TWO OF YOUTH FORUM ON SUSTAINABILITY

Regina and Moose Jaw district high-school students are getting a hands-on opportunity through the Royal Saskatchewan Museum (RSM) to develop their leadership skills while helping to make their communities sustainable.

Teams of students and teachers from schools in and around Regina and Moose Jaw will develop and carry out hands-on, student-led projects beginning today and ending in September 2005, through Saskatchewan's second Youth Forum on Sustainability.

"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."

The RSM developed round two of the forum in partnership with the organization Learning for a Sustainable Future (LSF), the Faculty of Education at the University of Regina, the Department of Learning, SaskEnergy, the City of Regina, and the Saskatchewan Science Centre. Today's kick-off at the Museum included a keynote address by Kids for Canadian Beef and workshops on issues ranging from climate change to conflict resolution.

"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 chair of the Youth Forum Steering Committee 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 Culture, Youth and Recreation Regina Phone: (306) 787-2850