The Better World Club (BWC) is a Ponderosa Education Community (PEC) program where middle schoolers have the chance to learn about real issues in the world and take action to make change. For the past few years, the BWC students have been learning about the Biodiversity crisis and getting their hands dirty doing native planting and outreach about this issue. BWC is thrilled to partner with the FEELed Lab and host our weekly after school sessions there. BWC students have always used their creativity to make change, and being at the FEELed Lab allows our students to spend time with the land and get to know the flora and fauna in this area, while fueling their artistic and creative minds.
Climate change, human activities and colonialism have accelerated the loss of biodiversity globally, and the Earth is in its 6th mass extinction. The Okanagan is a biodiversity hotspot in BC, but much of the unique life here is at risk. It is everyone’s job to protect, restore and care for this beautiful land, and our students want to take action. Two years ago, BWC students won the Sustainable Development Challenge, and received funding to implement Project Miniforest, a campaign to raise awareness about the importance of biodiversity and plant native plants in the Okanagan. By volunteering at na’ʔk’ʷulamən garden at the Okanagan College in Kelowna, BWC has been learning how to properly plant and take care of the plants in the Okanagan, and we are using our funding to share this knowledge and plant native seedlings. Through this work, BWC hopes to encourage others to engage in restoration practices that are guided by Syilx knowledge and priorities. We have done a lot of awesome planting and public awareness work in the Okanagan, and our students made this zine about our ideas and knowledge that we want to share with you all.
Today’s youth are not only concerned about the climate crisis, but demanding action from decision makers. This project offers youth an opportunity to take action and share their knowledge, passion and insights about what kind of future they want to see in the Okanagan. We are so excited to be part of the FEELed Lab community, and share native planting opportunities and our student’s message about the biodiversity crisis!
Read about what exactly BWC has been up to since joining the FEELed Lab in their first FEELed Note or check out their plans for Spring 2025!
The FEELed lab 