Real WILD -- Youth Program, 17-23 years

Coordinator:
Karen Martinsen, 8th WWC Youth Program
wildlife@ak.net
Director, Alaska EdVentures

The WWC recognizes that young people need more opportunities for involvement in conservation, and ways in which they can rub shoulders with potential mentors, experts, teachers and future colleagues. Each Congress therefore has had a small but targeted youth program, and the 8th WWC is ramping up the involvement. We are targeting both youth and young environmental professional. There are distinct programs for them and ways in which they are integrated into program elements.

Youth Program, 17-23 years

The Youth program of the 8th World Wilderness Congress is evolving with enthusiasm! Youth have registered from many countries and delegates from Alaska are now being selected. We expect 12-16 youth from outside the United States and about 12-16 youth from Alaska (with an emphasis on youth who represent indigenous cultures of Alaska). Youth are 17-22 years in age. In concert with the tradition of the WWC, the Youth Program is evolving as a synergistic process of the many partners who have joined the volunteer corps for youth. The two goals of the Youth Program are:

     1) Building a Global Youth Network through Cultural Exchange – Having FUN!
     2) Acting as the “Reporters of the Congress”

Program Schedule:

Pre-Congress Media Training Session

On the day prior to the start of the Congress, a variety of media experts will present workshops on the use of media in order for youth to act in the role of “Reporters of the Congress”. Experts in video, print and radio will instruct youth on how to use the technology of the trade as well as the basic skills and formulas for informing the public. Youth will receive a brief overview of the three workshops, and subsequently choose one workshop to attend for the rest of the day. Once they have received training in a specific medium, youth will then use that format to report during the entire Congress. Participants will have office space at First Alaskans Institute, which is about 100 yards from the convention hall. Other facilities may be utilized as needed, such as the local public radio station.

8th World Wilderness Congress

Youth will attend and participate in the regular program throughout the Congress. Each participant will choose sessions to attend and report on. At some point in each day, “Reporters” will meet with media mentors and advisors to develop their “stories”, news, and other presentations. We anticipate that youth will produce publishable pieces for print, radio or video/TV, several times during the Congress and are hopeful the group may have a culminating piece that can be produced or published in full, later. On the last day of the Congress, the youth group will present to the full Congress. The group has been honored with an unusual allowance of 30 minutes, which is the most that any group is being provided. The is testimony of the value and anticipated results from youth involvement!