News and event information for Williams Lake, BC - as it happens.

Two new $1000 prizes have been added to Science World’s BC Green Games contest, to promote energy conservation awareness in schools across BC. Students are encouraged to document their energy conservation success stories and submit them online before March 1. The addition of these prizes brings the total prize money to be awarded to BC schools to $24,000.  

This is the fourth year of BC Green Games, a province-wide competition for students in Kindergarten to Grade 12, designed to inspire action, enable sharing, and reward and celebrate the green efforts of schools in BC. So far this school year, over 140 teams have registered, and the registration has been extended through to February to allow even more teams the opportunity to share their inspirational environmental action stories. In previous years student teams submitted public education and awareness projects that reached beyond their schools. 

“Parents loved the student-led assembly—many are now supporting their students in reducing energy use in their homes,” said Jill Gingrich, teacher sponsor at Blewett Elementary in Nelson. 

“I really enjoyed watching the kids feel like they had some control on what is happening to their environment. They became leaders and educators sharing statistics and suggesting lifestyle changes,” said Jasmin Marshman, Principal at James Thompson Elementary in Powell River.

School-based energy conservation projects are supported by local and provincial mentors like BC Hydro, Destination Conservation, GreenLearning, and Science World’s Scientists and Innovators in the Schools. Working alongside these mentors, students are inspired to create projects such as sweater campaigns, idle-free zones, dine-in-the-dark days or energy audits.

In March 2012, the public will be asked to vote for their favourite submissions at bcgreengames.ca. All submissions, including those that fit the criteria for the energy prizes, will be judged by a panel of scientists and environmental and science education experts, based on demonstration of environmental responsibility, a creative action plan, and clear communication about the project.

Over 350 projects created for previous years of BC Green Games can be viewed online at bcgreengames.ca. Science World manages BC Green Games with input from youth, government, school district, university, science and environmental education community partners. Presenting sponsors are BC Hydro and FortisBC.

About Science World

Science World British Columbia is a charitable non-profit organization that engages British Columbians in science and inspires future science and technology leadership throughout our province.

Science World at TELUS World of Science is home to Our World: BMO Sustainability Gallery, where you can explore electricity and water consumption and waste, and find out how your choices affect the world around us and create a sustainable future. Be sure to take a run on our kinetic wheel and try your hand at shooting water wisely.

| More...