Fleming College gets students back to nature and back to school
Peterborough ON – (September 21, 2018) – Living Planet @ Campus, a new national program from World Wildlife Fund Canada, is returning to Fleming College and expanding to other college and university campuses across the country.
This new program aims to enhance a culture of sustainability and promote the protection of nature by engaging post-secondary students in meaningful actions. Opportunities to personally lead change during their campus experience and to achieve Living Planet Leader certification will prepare the next wave of decision-makers and practitioners in their fields to contribute to a more sustainable Canada.
Developed in partnership with Fleming College along with 11 other post-secondary institutions and championed by HP Canada, Living Planet @ Campus was created in collaboration with students as well as campus engagement and sustainability professionals.
Fleming College has successfully implemented three WWF Go Wild grant projects including: the installation of a birdhouse city, the installation of an apiary at our Frost Campus, and the launch of a social enterprise project led by student group Enactus – Fleming. Furthermore, the College will be hosting its second Annual Great Canadian Shoreline Cleanup with the Peterborough Community in Delcrary Park on October 13, 2018. This program has been a fantastic opportunity for the college to offer additional opportunities for both staff and students to become involved in the community and supporting wildlife.
Fleming College will continue to work closely with WWF-Canada to engage our students on sustainability and the protection of nature.
About Living Planet @ Campus
- Digital tools allow students – no matter their area of study – to register, track their impact and connect with peers.
- How-to guides help students lead activities on their campuses, such as cleanups, awareness campaigns and habitat restoration.
- Students can apply for funding to lead their own conservation projects and spread the knowledge gained to others.
- Campus sustainability offices can work closely with WWF-Canada to further engage students on sustainability and the protection of nature.
About the LP@C Living Planet Leader certification
- Students can earn Living Planet Leader certification to add to their resume and LinkedIn.
- Living Planet Leader certification demonstrates to employers the recipient has the skills and experience to move the needle on sustainability.
Some of the other founding partner schools include Algonquin College, George Brown College, Humber College, Mohawk College, University of Waterloo, University of Windsor and Wilfrid Laurier University.
Sarah Winterton, director of nature-connected communities at WWF-Canada, says:
“Canada’s environmental footprint is among the biggest in the world, fuelling climate change and unprecedented wildlife loss. Imagine if we could harness the power of millions of post-secondary students in Canada to turn that around? Our Living Planet @ Campus program provides students with opportunities to take action on sustainability, be leaders for nature and earn certification to take into the professional world when they graduate.”
Frances Edmonds, head of sustainability at HP Canada, says:
“As Canada’s most sustainable technology company, we are committed to continuing to create positive, lasting change for the planet, its people and our communities across the country. We are proud to be championing The Living Planet @ Campus program which helps to deepen the commitment to conservation with the next generation of leaders. Students who join this program and receive the Living Planet Leader certification are the kind of employees that companies like ours seek.”
Trish O’Connor, Director of Sustainability Fleming College, says:
Through WWF’s Living Planet @ Campus program, our students are engaging in hands-on conservation efforts that will benefit wildlife on campus and in our community. We believe that learning how to personally lead change and put sustainability into action is an important part of a well-rounded education, no matter a student’s area of study. By participating in WWF’s Living Planet @ Campus program, our students are graduating with that knowledge and experience, which is a priority for students, employers and communities. With our program strengths, including the environmental and natural resource sciences, Fleming is proud to be a founding partner in this initiative.
About World Wildlife Fund Canada
WWF-Canada creates solutions to the environmental challenges that matter most for Canadians. We work in places that are unique and ecologically important, so that nature, wildlife and people thrive together. Because we are all wildlife. campus.wwf.ca.
About Living Planet @ Campus
Living Planet @ Campus, championed by HP Canada, is a national student engagement program that involves students, no matter their area of study, in meaningful environmental action and opportunities to personally lead change towards a more sustainable Canada. wwf.ca/atcampus
About Fleming College
Located in the heart of Central Ontario, Fleming College has campus locations in Peterborough, Lindsay, Cobourg and Haliburton. Named for famous Canadian inventor and engineer Sir Sandford Fleming, the college features more than 100 full-time programs in Arts and Heritage, Business, Environmental and Natural Resource Sciences, General Arts and Sciences, Health and Wellness, Justice and Community Development, Skilled Trades and Technology, and Continuing Education. Fleming College has more than 5,900 full-time and 10,000 part-time students, and 71,000 alumni.
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For further information
Sara O’Halloran
Fleming College
sara.ohalloran@flemingcollege.ca
705-749-5530 x 1366
Emily Vandermeer
WWF-Canada
o: 416-489-4567 ext. 7298 | c: 519-616-1556