The Friends of the Salmon River and the Lennox & Addington Stewardship Council are thrilled to partner up this year to offer a $1,000 grant to sponsor a local secondary school student to attend the annual Youth Summit for Mother Earth!
If you’re a young person passionate about the environment, or if you know a student who’d benefit from this incredible opportunity, please forward this information to them.
What is the Youth Summit?
The Youth Summit is a unique, cross-cultural weekend event planned and run by Indigenous and non-Indigenous youth leaders from across Ontario. It brings together 70 high school aged nature lovers (ages 14 to 20) for a weekend of outdoor education, leadership development, and environmental activism.
- When: September 11-13, 2026
- Where: Tawingo Outdoor Centre in Muskoka (Huntsville, ON), located on the traditional territories of the Ojibway, Chippewa, Algonquin, and Odawa.
- What’s included: The $1,000 sponsorship covers the full cost of participation, including all hands on workshops, meals, and accommodations.
- Transportation: The sponsored student will need to arrange their own transportation to and from Toronto (carpooling may be available). From Toronto, a round-trip charter bus to the camp is fully provided.
Who Can Apply?
To be eligible for our local sponsorship, applicants must meet the following criteria:
- Be between 14 and 20 years old.
- Be currently enrolled in, or a 2026 graduate from, a secondary school.
- Demonstrate an interest and involvement in nature, environmental stewardship, or environmental science.
Hear from Past Participants
“From this summit, I took away a lot of knowledge, appreciation, and good memories, and also a lot of connections. While there, I got to meet so many different like-minded students. It was definitely very inspiring to me to be around so many young people who also wanted to dedicate their futures towards natural research and conservation efforts.” — Jordyn, past participant from Napanee, Ontario
“I loved meeting so many amazing people and learning ways to participate in environmental activism. I gained a better understanding of Indigenous practices on the land where I live.” — Madeleine R., Pickering
How to Apply for Sponsorship
The deadline to apply for our joint sponsorship is Monday, June 30, 2026.
To apply, please send a brief resumé that includes a summary of your interest and relevant environmental background to:
- Contact: Susan Moore, Secretary (Lennox & Addington Stewardship Council) and President (Friends of the Salmon River)
- Email: lastewardship@gmail.com
- Phone: 613-379-5958
Note: If you’re selected for our sponsorship, you’ll then register formally for the Summit with Ontario Nature. For general inquiries about the event itself, you can reach Emily Green at emilyg@ontarionature.org or 416-444-8419 ext. 280.