Fleming College

Students Focus on the 3 E’s: Education, Environment, Envirothon

Today, more than 130 high school students and educators from across Ontario gave back to the local community by helping to eliminate invasive species on Fleming College’s Campus in Lindsay, Ontario. The project is part of the Ontario Envirothon Championship, where high school students work together to compete for the championship title in an environmental problem-solving competition.

The Ontario Envirothon is a unique program that celebrates student’s passion for the outdoors and engages them to be part of a team. Ontario Envirothon encourages students to get outdoors to experience nature first hand. Students participated in outdoor events in 18 different regions across the province, all mentored by professionals working in natural resources. After winning their regional events, they progressed to the Ontario Envirothon Championship taking place May 29-June 1 at Fleming College in Lindsay.

High School students from 18 regions of Ontario including Thunder Bay, Timmins, London, Ottawa and Toronto worked together to remove invasive species from a nearby woodlot, therefore improving the health of the forest for the local community. The project was supported by Fleming College, POWER (Protect Our Water and Environmental Resources), the Invasive Species Centre and the Ministry of Education.

“It’s great to see students come together and give back to the local community through the legacy project that was focused on our theme of the year, Invasive Species,” said Rob Keen, CEO of Forests Ontario. “Ontario Envirothon allows students to connect with the natural environment and gain hands-on experience in natural resources; it’s no wonder so many of these students go on to consider careers in these fields.”

The project also supported Invasive Species, one of the championship’s five subject areas, by enabling the students to see the impact of their actions first hand by removing invasive buckthorn and garlic mustard. Improving the health of the local woodlot will provide research opportunities for future students of Fleming College.

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Forests Ontario
Forests Ontario is the voice for our forests. Working to promote a future of healthy forests sustaining healthy people, Forests Ontario is committed to the re-greening of Ontario through tree planting efforts on rural lands and in urban areas, as well as the renewal and stewardship of Ontario’s forests through restoration, education and awareness. Visit www.forestsontario.ca or follow us @Forests_Ontario.

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 5,800 full-time and 10,000 part-time students, and 71,000 alumni.

For more information or to schedule an interview, contact:

 Jessica Kaknevicius
Director of Forest Education and Awareness, Forests Ontario
416.646.1193 ext. 226
Cell: 647.222.5377
jkaknevicius@forestsontario.ca

Jeannette Holder
Communications Manager, Forests Ontario
416.646.1193 ext. 257
Cell: 416-522-8140
jholder@forestsontario.ca