Newcomer Youth Program

Nature for Everyone, Everywhere!

Are you passionate about nature and looking for an opportunity to make a real difference in your community? Nature for Everyone, Everywhere! is a new program lead by CPAWS Ottawa Valley for youth (ages 18-30) from newcomer communities in the Ottawa Valley who want to get involved in environmental stewardship and civic engagement. The goal of this new program is to engage youth to become champions for nature through civic engagement and volunteering programs to be co-created by the youth with support from CPAWS-OV. We aim to provide youth opportunities to gain the knowledge, skills, tools and supports  needed to successfully complete flexible service placements, with training sessions, opportunities to be mentored by others to achieve their goals. Volunteer service placements will address a community need, including, but not limited to the lack of access to nature among newcomer communities, for example. 

What is a volunteer service placement?

Individual service placements/community service projects could include:

• Organizing a park clean-up
• Organizing a group outing in nature for your community members
• Improving access to a natural area/park in your community
• Building a community garden
• A nature restoration project

The project is yours to imagine, and yours to create!

What can you expect from the program?

Through this program, you will: 

• Get hands-on experience in environmental projects focused on conservation, restoration, and protection.  

• Co-create volunteer projects that directly address the needs of your community 

• Gain valuable skills and training that will set you up for a future career in conservation and environmental fields.  

• Be mentored by experienced professionals and connect with a supportive network of like-minded youth. 

• Get to experience nature through a guided wilderness trip in the Ottawa Valley  

No experience necessary! This program is designed to help you learn and grow, and you will be supported through each step.  

Program details

• Program runs from March 2025 to March 2026
• Application deadline March 31st 2025
• Each participant will be expected to devote 120 hours to their community service project.
• CPAWS-OV will facilitate in-person or online workshops to develop skills of your choosing
• Participants will have to opportunity to take part in a 3-day all expense paid wilderness experience along the Dumoine River in June 2025
• Monthly meetings, workshops, and the 3-day wilderness trip can all count towards these 120 hours.
• At the end of the program, participants will be treated to an end-of-program gathering where your work will be showcased and celebrated.

Eligibility criteria

• Must be between the ages of 18-30
• Must identify as a newcomer to Canada within the last 5 years
• Must be willing to contribute 120 hours to community service project