Written by Heloise Kleinwort, Communcations & Fundraising Coordinator, with contribution by Alison Jenkins, Executive Director
Between April and June 2026, we hosted the second iteration of our Young Voices, Big Impact program. This followed on from Fall 2025 where a group of high-school students participated in eight hands-on events with AWARE. This iteration was expanded to include anyone aged 14 – 29 in the Sea To Sky, although 80% of the high school students from the 2025 program returned for a second year. The participants showed great willingness to get involved, learn and present themselves as engaged and knowledgeable youth volunteers, representing AWARE and the next generation of climate conscious leaders.
The program this spring consisted of a core events schedule that included roughly 10 hours of engagement opportunities, as well as additional events that were opt-in. The opportunities were categorised into volunteering, experiential learning, and advocacy – some of the participants clocked up to 20.5 hours which is testament to the dedication to climate action.
Below is a snap shot and brief reflection, including testimonials from these events in chronological order, including both core events and additional opportunities that were offered in this season’s Young Voices, Big Impact Spring 2026 programming:
1. Meet & Greet: Kick Off Session – Core Event
Wednesday, April 1 2026 | | 1 Hour | 6 – 7 PM
We kicked off the spring programming with an in-person session hosted at HI Whistler. A chance to reconnect with returning participants and walk them through the upcoming events schedule.
2. Circular Economy: Repair Café – Additional Opportunity
Saturday, April 18 2026 | 2.5 Hour Slots | 11 AM – 4 PM
During Earth week, volunteers helped with the registration of our busiest Repair Café to date where over 67 items were fixed. As part of Big Moves 6 – Closing the Loop, the youth got to see how a community event like this brings people together and can make a real difference in waste diversion by giving items a second life. This was the second time that our volunteers had helped at our Repair Cafés so they showed up and really got stuck in, representing AWARE.
3. GROW: Season Preparations – Core Event
Sunday, 19 April 2026 | 4 Hours | 10 AM – 2 PM
Participants assisted a team of GROW volunteers, to set up the gardens and greenhouses ready for the summer season. This was a hands-on experience and made it much easier with the many hands that showed up to help out. As most of our volunteers helped with harvesting crops for the Food Bank in the 2025 program, this was a natural follow on from that where they could be involved in a community program from the very beginning.
4. Circular Economy: Clothing Swap – Additional Opportunity
Tuesday, April 21 2026 | 3 Hours | 5 – 8 PM
A key event during Earth Week, our participants were vital in helping the event run smoothly. This ranked as one of the most popular amongst the participants. From helping set up the room, organise the layout, weigh and sort the clothing donations, welcome guests and pack out. They got to see how a community-driven event like this can make a big impact on textile waste, with over 206kg of clothing rehomed during the event.
5. Earth Week: Our Power, Our Planet Evening – Additional Opportunity
Thursday, April 23 2026 | 2 Hours | 6 – 8 PM
Some participants were able to attend the highlight Earth Week event, an evening presented by Dr. Tonya Smith and Jordon Gabriel, who presented on how to create ethical space in land management, restoring Indigenous cultural practices through forestry and the power of collaboration. This event also ranked as one of the top rated opportunities amongst the students, showing that making educational opportunities accessible is worthwhile as the subject matter is certainly within the younger generations interests.
6. Earth Week: Pitch In Day & BBQ – Additional Opportunity
Saturday, April 25 2026 | 4 Hours | 8.30 AM – 12.30 PM
We had a full turn out for this Pitch In Day, and as a team of Young Voices we swept the Nesters and White Gold area of all the garbage that we could find. Some of the finds included a trolley (in a ravine!) as well as electronics, flexible plastics and more. On a sunny day to end Earth Week this was a fantastic day to spend together and collectively make a difference to the community.
7. Circular Economy: Community Garage Sale – Additional Opportunity
Sunday, May 10 2026 | 3 Hour Slots | 8 AM – 2 PM
Participants played a huge role in helping this biannual AWARE event run smoothly. They directed cars and welcomed vendors in the morning and then coordinated donations with WCSS in the afternoon while ensuring smooth vendor pack down and exits. This was not the first Garage Sale the youth had helped with, so it was fantastic to see their confidence grow with their active involvement in running the event.
8. Zero Waste Heroes at the Whistler Farmers Market – Additional Opportunity
Sunday, May 17 2026 | 3 Hours | 11 AM – 2 PM
At this event, participants got the chance to shadow our Environmental Program Coordinator, Mike, and assist visitors of the Farmer’s Market in properly sorting their waste at the Zero Waste Station. For the 2025 participants, this was the second time they had joined as Zero Waste Heroes, and it was wonderful to see the confidence of the youth leading conversations around waste with members of the public, educating their peers and elders on the correct sorting of recycling.
9. Whistler Blackcomb Zero Waste Systems Tour – Core Event
Saturday, May 23 2026 | 3 Hours | 10AM – 12.30 PM
This experiential learning opportunity was new to the calendar for the 2026 program. With our partners at Whistler Blackcomb, the youth went behind the scenes to witness sustainability in action on the mountain and discover the existing systems in place for WB to reach their 2030 net zero goals. The tour included the Roundhouse and Rendezvous, the Sustainability Manager Kacey hosted the tour and the youth were very engaged and asking questions throughout.
10. Advocacy: Attend A Council Meeting – Core Event
Tuesday, May 26 2026 | 2 Hours | 5.30 – 7.30 PM
This was a key event in the 2026 program schedule, where youth were invited to join AWARE at a council meeting. The meeting itself included a presentation from RMOW staff on the Zero Waste Action Plan update. We briefed the youth on the formal process of the council meetings, how to register to speak during public comment and gave tips on how best to present a question. Laura chose to speak and ask the councillors what more could be done to reach Whistler’s waste goals, it was palpable that the attendance of youth and their active participation in municipal proceedings was very well received.
11. Circular Economy: Repair Café – Additional Opportunity
Thursday, May 28 2026 | 2.5 Hours Slots | 2 – 7 PM
The second of our spring Repair Cafés, participants helped once again with the smooth running of this community event.
12. Active Transportation: Go By Bike – Core Event
May 30 – June 5 2026 | 1 – 2 Hours
Throughout GoByBike week, our participants joined AWARE’s outreach tent at the Repair Cafe and participated themselves in the week, promoting sustainable active transportation.
13. Advocacy: Policy & Business Leaders Roundtable – Core Event
Wednesday, June 10 2026 | 2 Hours | 6 – 8 PM
To round off the program, we hosted a policy and business leaders roundtable event in partnership with the Whistler Library. Our program participants were in the room with four leaders, which included: Jeremy Valeriote, Member of Legislative Assembly (West Vancouver Sea to Sky – Green Party); Denise Imbeau – General Manager at GFL Environmental, Wolfgang Sterr, Senior Director of Mountain Dining at Whistler Blackcomb; and Cathy Jewett Councillor, Resort Municipality of Whistler (RMOW). The event included pizza delivery to go alongside some meaningful and interesting conversations where youth were able to express their concerns, frustrations and aspirations for the future of the planet, and community.
What Youth Told Us
At the end of the program, we sent out a survey and the results showed positive feedback:
- 100% of the respondents said they would like to return to the program in the Fall
- Overall satisfaction was 4.75/5, an increase on the Spring 2025 of 4.5/5
“Thank you for running the program! I really enjoyed it and can’t wait to join again in the fall.”
“Really liked the events this session!”
“I think it’s a great opportunity and I can’t wait to see how it grows.”
“I really liked it. Thank You!”
In my observations of this program as Executive Director, I can see that the continuity of the participants has really fostered a sense of teamwork and camaraderie, with each event the youth are forthcoming with their suggestions and feedback as to how we could improve and expand the environmental work that AWARE is doing. I can see their passion and care for the planet in the way they approach the program and it’s inspiring to see that teens in Whistler really want to make a difference.
What’s Next?
Our Youth Engagement work will continue later this year, with the next stage of programming returning in the Fall 2026. We would like to thank our Young Voices partner funders for the support that allows this work to be possible, those are: GFL Full Circle Grants and the Resort Municipality of Whistler.
