Learn how to organize fun, kid-friendly activities that get kids involved in climate action!
Our Kids Club activities are meant to give children hope for their future, show them that they can make real change happen in their own neighbourhoods, and build a strong sense of community.
Involving kids in climate education and action is a great way to empower kids and show them their own abilities. At the same time, children should never be the ones carrying the emotional weight of the climate crisis. Through Our Kids Club, we want to inspire kids and teach them about their own power and resilience, but never make them feel anxiety or stress about the future of the planet.
Climate action can take countless forms, from protesting to creating art, from community building to writing letters. The guides we’ve put together are meant to give you the tools you need to organize events and plan activities, but this is just the start—we’re looking forward to hearing all about your own ideas for how to get out into your community and make change!
As part of this project, we have a few microgrants to support this work! Find out more here:
Background
Recently, the kids in the For Our Kids Burnaby chapter wanted to change the language around the way the adults had been talking about the organization. “It’s not parent led,” one ten-year-old argued. “It’s family led.”
It was this idea that made the Burnaby team decide to start a new initiative: a climate club for kids, focused on kid-led actions and ideas. The club aims to equip kids with the tools they need to effect change themselves and speak confidently with their own voices about the climate crisis. It’s designed to be a fun, community-building club where kids can strengthen their friendships, get creative, and speak up for the planet.
Together, the Burnaby club has run a number of successful activities, including writing letters to the Burnaby City Council asking them to join the Sue Big Oil campaign, creating zines about ways to help the planet, and drawing maps of their community to identify climate problems and solutions close to home.
Who?
Maybe you already have a group of kids who are ready and eager to get started on climate action! If you don’t, here are some suggestions for gathering a group:
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Your school community could be a great place to start a climate club. If you want to start the club at your school, talk to teachers and your administration to see if there’s an opportunity to set up a group. If you are a teacher, we’re thrilled you’re here!
- Start climate conversations with your friends, neighbours, or classmates. You may be surprised by how many other families are worried about climate change. The connections you make at soccer practice or after school might be the seed for meaningful climate action.
- Ask people in your community, either in person or on social media groups.
Before you start gathering a group, think about the age range for your club. Some activities may work better with older or younger kids, or may be hard to do with a wide range of ages at the same time. When you’re putting out the call for kids to join you, you may want to specify an age range, or plan separate activities for different age groups.
Where?
Finding a space for your events can sometimes be a challenge. If you’re having trouble finding a room for your group, here are a few possibilities:
- Many libraries have a community space that is free for community groups and nonprofits.
- Some municipalities will let you rent out community centre spaces for free if you are a nonprofit. Your microgrant from For Our Kids can also help you pay for a community centre room.
- Ask members of your club if anyone has a community room in their apartment building.
- In sunny weather, try hosting an event at a local park.
What Next?
You have a group of kids who are eager to take climate action together and you have a space to meet. Now what?
Get to know each other:
Our Kids Clubs are meant to build strong communities for kids, so it’s important to make sure everyone gets to know each other and feels comfortable. That trust and support will serve you well as you begin to take action together! At the beginning of your first meeting, leave time for playing icebreaker games and chatting about what you want to get out of your club.
Never underestimate the power of snacks! A table of snacks will keep everyone energized and give kids a break to get to know each other.
Record your memories: take photos and videos of your time together, the art and writing you create as a club, and any events you organize and attend. We’d love to see your activities and share them with other Our Kids Clubs across Canada! Remember to get permission from anyone whose photo you’ll share on a website or on social media.
Where to start:
The activities we’ve shared as inspiration aren’t meant to be done in any particular order. However, it can be a good idea to get started with an activity that gets everyone thinking about climate problems and solutions in your own neighbourhood, or one that lets kids think about what matters most to them. You might start with an activity like Mapping Climate Solutions in Your Community or Create Your Own Climate Zines (see the buttons below). These activities can help you identify the issues that are most important for your club, and might help you decide on how to take action first in your neighbourhood or city.
Resources for Activities!
Connect and share!
We can’t wait to see photos and videos from your events! We hope you’ll get in touch with us with stories about your own activities, and reach out to us with any questions that come up as you plan.
- Submit your photos, videos and experiences here.
- Interested in support from our Burnaby team? Email [email protected] and we'll put you in touch!
