Youth Water Council

The Youth Water Council connects youth to their local watershed and empowers them to protect it. By joining the council, high school students gain a platform to collaborate, voice their opinions, and lead positive change for the future of their watershed.

"My favourite part of the YWC program was being able to meet like-minded people who were passionate about creating change in our watershed. The program brought us together and helped give us the power to express our opinions and ideas in a way that mattered.” 

A look at the program

Video: The 2025 Youth Water Council's Project

Video - The Youth Water Council: Empowering the Next Generation

The Youth Water Council program was shortlisted for an Alberta Emerald Award!

Expand Image

The 2025 Council

The 2025 Youth Water Council featured 12 high school students who shared a common passion for their local environment. The council official wrapped up on June 7th, 2025 following completion of their project: Watershed Keepers - Education Kits for Young Explorers.

Learn about the 2025 council and their project here.

Expand Image

ELIGIBILITY

Collaborate with like-minded peers and learn from leaders and professionals in the environmental sector!

The YWC aims to form a diverse team of students ready to spark change in their watershed. 

Applicants need only:

  • Live, attend school, or recreate in the North Saskatchewan River watershed
  • Be able to attend all in-person and virtual sessions 
  • Apply and showcase why you’re interested in participating (no previous experience or prerequisites required!)

Interested students and teachers - please send any inquiries or questions about this program to youthwatercouncil@nswa.ab.ca

The 2024 Youth Water Council group
The 2024 Youth Water Council

The 2024 Youth Water Council

The 2024 Youth Water Council featured a group of 9 passionate high-school students living in the North Saskatchewan River watershed.  Together, they embarked on a journey of discovery, through virtual learning sessions, weekend camps, and the creation of their own Innovative Project.

Learn about the 2024 council and their project here.

Youth Water Council comic book Expand Image

See the 2024 Youth Water Council's Project - an educational comic book about watershed health!

Read a blog all about the 2024 council's journey

Inside the Program

Expand Image
Council members building a marshmallow tower Expand Image
Council members at the 2025 kickoff workshop

LEARNING AND DISCOVERY

The program kicks off with an in-person workshop, where council members explore strategies for effective team building, align shared values and expectations, and learn from guest speakers. The council then meets bi-weekly for Virtual Discovery sessions, led by NSWA team members and environmental knowledge experts. 

  • Watershed 101 - NSWA team members
  • Environmental Engineering - University of Alberta
  • Water Quality Management - City of St. Albert
  • Wetland & Riparian Health in Our Watershed -  Cows & Fish
  • Climate Change and Land Use Simulation Activity - Alberta Tomorrow
  • Lake Management, Aquatic Plant ID, and Careers in the Water Sector - Alberta Lake Management Society (ALMS)
  • Indigenous knowledge, reconciliation & holistic health - Azure Johnson
The 2025 council monitors lake health on the ice
Lake monitoring workshop at the 2025 weekend camp

INNOVATIVE PROJECT

Next, YWC council members are guided through the creation of their Innovative Project during scheduled virtual sessions and a weekend camp! The team will have the opportunity to work on an environmental cause that speaks to them while learning project management skills along the way.

The YWC Weekend camp is a highlight of the program! The Battle Lake 4H Center provides the perfect refuge for 3 days of experiential learning, group bonding, and project planning.

The camp allows council members to deliberate on the objectives, timeline and vision for their Innovative Project in-person.

All food and accommodations are included.

Expand Image

Thank you to our generous supporters for supporting this program. 

TD Friends of the Environment Foundation, Sherritt International, Enbridge Fueling Futures, Imperial Oil, and Trans Alta