Geographical Thinking: Episode 105 – A Young Generation of Conservation Leaders
In this episode of the Geographical Thinking podcast, host Michelle Brake dives into the inspiring story of Ontario Nature’s Youth Council and its growing impact in the world of conservation. Hear from council members and the Ontario Nature staff that support them as they share how they’re using digital tools like ArcGIS StoryMaps and Canva to raise awareness about wetland loss across Ontario.
From leading community events to developing social media campaigns, these young changemakers are proving that passion, creativity and a little geospatial knowhow can make a big difference. Whether you're a student, educator or nature enthusiast, this podcast episode is full of ideas for you. You’ll discover how youth are leading the way in environmental advocacy, armed with maps, messages and mission-driven digital content.
Looking for resources on what we discussed in today’s podcast? Check them out below!
Ontario Nature Youth Council: A province-wide network of passionate young environmental leaders, Ontario Nature’s Youth Council empowers youth to take action on conservation issues like wetland protection, habitat restoration and biodiversity through events, advocacy and education.
Wetlands: A Youth Advocacy ArcGIS StoryMap: This story, created by Ontario Nature and its Youth Council, explores the ecological importance of wetlands, highlights key threats and calls for stronger policy protections in Ontario.
Your Protected Places: This interactive story by Ontario Nature showcases community-nominated candidate protected areas across Ontario, supporting Canada’s goal to protect 30% of land and water by 2030.
iNaturalist in the ArcGIS Living Atlas of the World: Explore a collection of iNaturalist datasets integrated into the ArcGIS Living Atlas of the World, offering access to global citizen science observations that support biodiversity research and conservation mapping.
