Youth Summit for Mother Earth 2026

What is this project about?

The Youth Summit for Mother Earth (YSME) 2026 is a weekend-long event held each September that empowers youth across Ontario to become leaders in environmental stewardship, reconciliation, and community action. The YSME brings together Indigenous and non-Indigenous youth for hands-on learning, cultural exchange, and leadership development.

Through workshops, outdoor activities, and guidance from Indigenous Knowledge Holders, youth gain skills and confidence to take meaningful action in their communities. The YSME also strengthens a provincial network of young environmental leaders through NGYP activities fostering collaboration, mentorship, and peer learning.

The YSME removes barriers to participation by providing travel, accessibility, and resource support, ensuring youth from diverse backgrounds can attend and fully engage. Participants leave with practical tools to lead conservation projects, advocate for sustainable practices, and inspire others, creating a ripple effect that extends beyond the weekend event.

This cross-cultural, reconciliation-centred gathering nurtures the next generation of environmental leaders, equipping them to care for Ontario’s wild species, spaces, and communities now and in the future.

YS25_Workshop_Testimonials.pdf
YS25_Photos.pdf

Why is this project important to the community?

The Youth Summit for Mother Earth (YSME) is important to communities across Ontario because it empowers youth to take meaningful action for the environment, their peers, and future generations. The YSME fosters cross-cultural understanding, reconciliation, and a shared commitment to protecting wild species and natural spaces by bringing together Indigenous and non-Indigenous youth.

Youth participants gain hands-on experience in conservation, leadership, and environmental advocacy. They carry this experience back to their schools, communities, and local projects. The YSME helps build a network of young environmental leaders through the NGYP activities, providing mentorship, peer support, and ongoing opportunities to collaborate on solutions to pressing environmental challenges.

Removing barriers such as cost, travel, and accessibility ensures that youth from diverse backgrounds can participate, creating inclusive spaces where all voices are heard. By equipping young people with the knowledge, skills, and confidence to act, the YSME strengthens community capacity to protect Ontario’s biodiversity and advance environmental stewardship.

Ultimately, the project nurtures a generation of informed, motivated, and connected youth who will continue to inspire and lead positive change, creating healthier, more resilient, and environmentally conscious communities across the province.

Some testimonials below from a recent YSME highlight the importance of the event to the community:
“Through my involvement in the event I was able to gain a new network of like-minded peers, learn from wise experts and motivate myself to create impactful change.” — Serena P

“I was … inspired to take action in my region of Toronto. Scarborough does not have a lot of people fighting for climate justice currently. I was able to start ‘Climate Strike Scarborough’ … I was also inspired to take on grassroots projects in my area …” — Delenn Kershaw

Target Completion Date
December 31, 2026
Location
192 Spadina Ave, Suite 110
Toronto
M5T 2C2

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