Project submission is nearly here!!!
Project submission is nearly here!!!
3 weeks left for your Young Environmentalist Awards project!
If you have not started your project yet or if you feel you don’t have enough time, don’t worry; I have included plenty of ideas for projects you or your youth group/class can complete within the next 3 weeks.
Please find information below about:
- Achievable projects (if you have yet to start)
- Project submission (Feb 11th-22nd; be aware of mid-term break)
- Awards
Achievable projects:
- Poster competition to raise awareness of an environmental issue (this can be done in an art class and last 1 class or a week, or two weeks. Then simply put the posters up around the schools and get some teachers / students to vote. Be creative….
- Planting a vegetable garden / wild flower garden. This can be done during lunch time, in class, as a youth group or after school, simply plan your location, make sure soil is good and scatter some wild flower seeds. You can grow your flowers, increasing bio diversity, and perhaps research the many benefits of planting wildflowers…..
- Cleaning up an area in your community. Is there an area that’s dirty, graffiti on the side of a house/shop, in your neighbourhood, by your school, in a park/beach. Have a look around, do a bit of research and get other classes / community groups on board too…..
Some other ideas:
- Create a magazine / newsletter / webpage / app about an environmental issue and how to improve the environment
- Wildlife garden/ insect Inn linking with other groups in your area (elderly, variety of schools/groups)
- Environmental art exhibition in school, inviting other groups to participate on common theme
- Environmental song / drama related
- Survey of attitudes to environmental issues from a variety of groups
- Follow an environmental issue in the media and produce a report / multi media presentation
- An eco-information pamphlet which encourages students, staff and the community to conserve energy/ reduce water wastage or tackle an environmental issue of your choice.
To add to your project you could also consider: Letters to local councilors / Taoiseach / newspapers
Invite environmental guest speakers in to your class
Please note: Your school/group may have already carried out an environmental project or are in the process of doing something associated with the environment, you can submit it as a Young Environmentalist Awards project?
E.g. Christmas decorations from recycled materials, Halloween costumes from items you had around the house, an area in your community you cleaned up and/or replanted, CSPE classes can register their Action project, as long as it covers an environmental issue. It will give your students extra recognition for their hard work. A TY group considering learning a new skill for other awards/programmes e.g. Gaisce /Green flag. Last year we received projects which involved art, music, drama, science, technology, school gardens and more.
The ECO-UNESCO Young Environmentalist Awards programme supports, compliments and rewards projects done as part of other programmes such as: Green/Eco-Schools, Gaisce Awards, One good idea, Duke of Edinburgh Awards, IMPACT Awards, Young Social Innovators, BT Young Scientist.
Project submission: (February 11th – 22nd 2013):
Projects can be submitted by post from Monday 11th February, 2012 until the deadline on Friday 22nd February, 2013.
Please do not submit any 3D pieces/ See note below*
Project submissions require the following completed documents, in order to judge your project correctly:
- Your registration number (emailed to the school leader) marked on all items: reports, 3d pieces, emails.
- Submission form (available on the website or can be emailed to you)
- Your project: Completed written project report (max 3000 words, roughly 4-6 pages) along with evidence of work carried out during the project. This can be supplemented with a video diary, photo scrapbook, CD-ROM, Project diary, Song/music, poetry, drama, etc.
- Teacher/Leader Evaluation sheet (print from Pg 46 of manual).
- Participant Evaluation sheet: completed by each group member (Pg 49 of manual) http://ecounesco.ie/images/YEA/yea%20manual%202013.pdf
- Group photo (hard or soft copy) Print clearly each participants name on the back of the photo, include reg. number.
As each project is unique, we do not put many restrictions on how you should present their project, or exactly what to include when submitting. Some groups may have a song, or recycled decorations to show, some may have photos of an area they cleaned up in their community, or a powerpoint presentation of a poster competition they held in school to reduce energy wastage.
*Please note: If you have 3D pieces, art/fashion pieces, decorations or large posters, photograph these pieces and submit the photos only with your report. Clearly mark your registration number on the back of each photo. Groups should consider showing scale to give a true representation of their project. Once submitted, projects cannot be returned to entrants, but will be available (on the day) for presentation at ECO Dens and on the morning of the Showcase and Awards ceremony. *Groups are advised to keep copies of all project materials for their presentation at the ECO-Dens and the Showcase and Awards ceremony.
Awards:
Certificate of Participation: All participants receive a Certificate of Participation, posted out in early May*.
Shortlisted Project: All shortlisted projects receive a certificate for their school /youth group
Highly Commended: Highly Commended groups receive a framed certificate and group members will receive a Highly Commended certificate of participation (non-award winning groups who have scored outstanding marks)
*groups attending the Showcase and Awards ceremony will receive their certificate on the day.
There are 3 overall winners of the ECO-UNESCO Young Environmentalist Awards:
- Overall Senior winner
- Overall Junior winner
- Overall SuperJunior winner
Category Awards
Winners: There are Junior & Senior winners of each of the 10 categories.
*Super Junior Age group is non-category specific and is awarded as a separate special award.
Please note that ECO UNESCO reserves the right to eliminate and/or combine categories where there are a low number of entries or where entries are deemed not to have reached the required standard. In this situation there might not be an award made in each category.
Click here for descriptions of each category
Additional Special Awards
The following special awards will also be awarded
(click on the links below for details):
Super Junior Award
NEW ECO-Alu Art & Design Award
WasteMatchers – Something New from Something Old Award
Local to Global Award
People’s Choice Award
Toyota ECO-UNESCO Club of the Year Award
ECO-Leader of the Year Award
ECO Sustainability Award
Find out more here: http://ecounesco.ie/awards.html
We are looking forward to a high number of project entries this year, and if you need any help with your project or more information submitting your project please feel free to contact me at yea@ecounesco or phone 353 (1) 6625491.
|
Region |
Date |
Location |
|
Munster |
Friday March 8th |
Lifetime Lab, |
|
Ulster |
Tuesday March 12th |
Lough Neagh Discovery Centre, |
|
Connaught |
Thursday March 14th |
Claregalway Hotel, |
|
Leinster |
Wednesday March 20th and Thursday March 21st |
ECO-UNESCO, |
2013
ECO-UNESCO’s Young Environmentalist Awards 2013 is well underway. We will be updating the blog every week with updates and information, so remember to keep checking in.
Thousands of young environmentalists in schools, youth groups and Youthreach centres throughout the Island of Ireland are currently making positive contributions to their environment and community by carrying out environmental action projects. If you have yet to register your environmental action project please do so now. Each young person who submits a project receives a Certificate of Participation. The participant’s efforts are recognised as well as giving them the opportunity to showcase their project and win further prizes and awards.
ECO-UNESCO Young Environmentalist Awards programme supports, compliments and rewards projects done as part of other programmes such as: Green/Eco-Schools, Gaisce Awards, One good idea, Duke of Edinburgh Awards, IMPACT Awards, Young Social Innovators, BT Young Scientist etc.
Following some excellent project entries in 2012, we have introduced a new category this year: ECO Health and Wellbeing. For further information on this new category, please visit our website.
Your school/group may have already carried out an environmental project or are in the process of doing something associated with the environment, why not submit it as a Young Environmentalist Awards project? E.g. Christmas decorations from recycled materials, Halloween costumes from items you had around the house, an area in your community that needs to be cleaned up and replanted, CSPE action projects based on an environmental issue, TY group considering learning a new skill for other awards/programmes e.g. Gaisce /Green flag or you could host a poster competition to highlight an environmental issue, eg minimising energy waste in the school/home. Develop a flyer to encourage people to minimise water waste (as water charges are due to come into Ireland). Simply choose an environmental issue and submit your project into the Young Environmentalist Awards.
There are also loads of past projects and ideas and support information in our manual (see below), but should you have any questions, please do not hesitate to call me. Click below for the Young Environmentalist Awards resource Manual:
http://www.ecounesco.ie/images/YEA/yea%20manual%202013.pdf
Please feel free to browse the ECO-UNESCO website http://www.ecounesco.ie where you will find links to sample projects, videos and pictures of last year’s awards, which will provide you and your group with regular updates and Young Environmentalist Awards news.
Registration is free and only takes a few minutes to complete: http://ecounesco.ie/yea-register-now.html
When you register you receive a free support pack which includes submission requirements, judging criteria and many more useful tools and tips.
Awards:
We continue to offer a number of awards which were introduced in 2011.
This year once again we will have our very popular People’s Choice Award where we aim to get more people aware of the fantastic eco-action being carried out throughout Ireland and the North by encouraging the public to vote online.
The Local to Global Award to encourage projects on global sustainability.
The ECO-Leader Award for committed Young Environmentalist Award Leaders.
The ECO Sustainability Award for Centres and Organisations Award that are sustainable in practice. Contact ysd@ecounesco.ie for more information.
The ‘WasteMatchers’ Award which places emphasis on creating ‘something new from something old’; (this award is sponsored by Cork County Council and only open to groups from Cork). http://www.wastematchers.com/showPage.php?ID=31&PHPSESSID=8ed6c5ab11ba051dd3727399d4493ae5
We are also offering a special Alu-ECO Art and Design Award which goes to projects who come up with creative and innovative ways of using old aluminium e.g. cans etc. The prize will be awarded to the entrant who has best used aluminium cans and foils to create something different. The judges are looking for creativity, imagination and innovation and the winning creation will be chosen for its originality and environmental message. http://www.aluproireland.ie/Schools.html for further information and ideas.
Once you have completed your environmental action and recorded your project, submit it by post or in person to ECO UNESCOs office in Dublin.
Project Submission (Deadline February 22nd 2013)
Project submissions require the following completed documents, in order to judge your project correctly:
• Your registration number (see above) marked on all items: reports, 3d pieces, emails.
• Submission form (download on our website or we will email this to you).
• Completed written project report (max 3000 words) along with evidence of work carried out during the project. This can be supplemented with a video diary, photo scrapbook, CD-ROM, Project diary, Song/music, poetry, drama, etc.
• Teacher/Leader Evaluation sheet (print from Pg 46 of manual available online).
• Participant Evaluation sheet: completed by each group member (Pg 49 of manual)
• Group photo (hard or soft copy).
Projects can be submitted by post from Monday 11th February, 2012 until the deadline on Friday 22nd February, 2013.
We will run our regional ‘Dragons Den’ style ECO-Dens in March 2013, which were hugely successful and popular in 2011 and 2012. The Dens provide your group with the opportunity to pitch their project to a panel of judges and network with other young environmentalists in your region.
March 8th: Munster: Lifetime lab, Lee road, Cork
March 12th: Ulster: Lough Neagh Discovery centre, Craigavon
March 14th: Connaught: ClareGalway hotel
March 20th & 21st: The Green house, Dublin
From this regional judging phase, the final 60 shortlisted groups will be chosen to showcase their project at the Annual Showcase and Awards Ceremony on the 22nd May, 2013.
From all of us at ECO-UNESCO, we look forward to receiving your project and hearing all about the great environmental work you get up to over the year. Remember the ECO-UNESCO team is always here for you and your group to offer support throughout every step of the programme.
For further information, please contact:
Sarah-Jane Taylor, Environmental Youth Officer yea@ecounesco.ie T. +353 1 6625491
Many thanks to everyone who supported the ECO-UNESCO Young Environmentalist Awards 2012
Click here to view this year’s sponsors and funders
Showcase & Awards Ceremony Photos!
Check out our new album which captures the youth ECO-Action at the ECO-UNESCO Young Environmentalist Awards gala showcase and awards ceremony at the Round Room of the Mansion House on Tuesday 8th May 2012.
2012 Award Winners
Click here for a full list of ECO-UNESCO Young Environmentalist Awards 2012 award winners! 
ECO-UNESCO Young Environmentalists of the Year 2012 Crowned at Gala Showcase & Awards Ceremony!
Overall Senior Winners - Wormery Works Group from St Josephs Summerhill, Athlone with Elaine Nevin, National Director, ECO-UNESCO and Duncan Stewart, ECO-Eye Productions
Overall Junior Winners - The Big Tidy Up Group from Our Ladys & St. Patrick’s College Belfast with Elaine Nevin, National Director, ECO-UNESCO and Duncan Stewart, ECO-Eye Productions
Green teens from St. Josephs College, Athlone were crowned the 2012 Overall Senior ECO-UNESCO Young Environmentalists of the year for their ‘Wormery Works’ project with the 2012 Overall Junior Award scooped by teens from Our Lady & St. Patrick’s College, Belfast for the ‘The Big Tidy Up,’ at the 13th annual ECO-UNESCO Young Environmentalist Finalists Showcase and Awards Ceremony held in the Round Room of the Mansion House, in Dublin on 8th May.
In attendance were over 600 young people and special guests Ms. Frances Fitzgerald, Minister for Children Youth Affairs, Andrew Montague, Lord Mayor ofDublinand the youthful master of ceremonies, Stephen Byrne, RTÉ presenter. The group fromSt Joseph’s College Summerhill implemented a successful wormery and waste reduction campaign in their school. Thanks to their winning worms and inspiring awareness raising activities, this group is reducing waste in their school, supplying their organic garden with compost and setting an excellent environmental example for their peers and the public. The ‘Big Tidy Up’ from Our Lady and St. Patricks inBelfast, carried out an anti-litter campaign which reached global levels as they linked up with schools inCroatiaandWashington.
Along with the overall winners, over 20 other Awards were presented including category winners in Biodiversity, Water, ECO-Community Development, ECO-Enterprise, ECO-Art and Design and Climate Change. Special Awards were presented to ECO-UNESCO Clubs, to Super junior groups (10-12yrs), to ECO-Leaders (teachers & youth leaders) and to youth and community organisations through the ECO-Sustainability Award. With young people from all overIrelandandNorthern Ireland, the event featured 60 lucky groups who were selected for the finals from almost 4,000 young people throughoutIrelandandNorthern Irelandat regional ‘Dragon’s Den’ style ECO-Dens. Each group showcased innovative elements of their environmental action projects which included fun and friendly nature trails; up-cycled fashion, fracking research, eco-cartoons, original environmental songs and even a pedal powered smoothie machine!
Preceding the official awards ceremony, the public was invited to visit the colourful showcase where the Young Environmentalists were present to share details about their ECO-Action project. The ECO-UNESCO team also provided exciting green-themed activities including creative recycling workshops, a Rio+20 Zone where young people explored their ideas about the upcoming UN Conference on Sustainable Development and an ECO-Talent Zone where visitors were entertained by inspiring youth performances.
“I am extremely impressed by all the young environmentalists participating in this year’s awards,” said Elaine Nevin, National Director of ECO-UNESCO. “All of the young people have shown tremendous creativity and innovation in their approach to protecting the environment and promoting environmental awareness among their peers, their schools, youth groups and the community as a whole. We have received high quality projects and we are delighted to run this programme to recognise and reward young peoples achievements’
“It is heartening to witness the levels of interest and passion exhibited by so many young people in the future of the environment that we all share. This is an area of tremendous importance and it is reassuring that the motivators and leaders of tomorrow have such a collaborative ethos and have displayed such energy and innovation” commented Michael D. Higgins, President of Ireland in an official statement for the event.
The annual awards programme run by ECO-UNESCO, Ireland’s environmental education and youth organisation, recognises and rewards young people that carry out local environmental action projects. The programme has provided thousands of young people, aged 10 -18, an opportunity
RESULTS ARE OUT!
Young Environmentalist Awards Shortlist 2012
The official shortlist has been released! Click here to see who has made it to the finals at the Gala Showcase and Awards Ceremony in the Round Room of the Mansion House, Dublin on Tuesday 8th May.
Not on the list? Don’t worry – you still have chance to get through by getting votes for the People’s Choice Award 202! We will also be posting you certificates of participation to commend your excellent work.
Final Countdown for Discovering Ireland’s Greenest Teens!
Finalists announced for ECO-UNESCO Young Environmentalist Awards 2012
Young people from across Irelandwill be honoured at the 13th annual ECO-UNESCO Young Environmentalist Awards Showcase and Ceremony on 8th May in the Round Room of the Mansion House in Dublin. From thousands of young people who registered, ECO-UNESCO selected 60 projects from thousands of entrants hailing from every county on the island.
The annual awards programme run byECO-UNESCO,Ireland’s environmental education and youth organisation, recognises and rewards young people that carry out local environmental action projects. Finalists this year were picked based on a rigorous series of internal judging rounds and a grilling by the ECO-Dragons when they pitched their youth-led environmental action projects at the regional ECO-Dens.
The Young Environmentalist Awards is an annual national programme run byECO-UNESCO,Ireland’s Environmental Education and Youth Organisation and isIreland’s biggest celebration of youth ECO-Action. Now in it’s thirteenth year, the programme has provided thousands of young people, aged 10 -18, an opportunity to take action and raise awareness in their own community on issues that matter the most to them.
“We are extremely proud of all the young environmentalists participating in this year’s programme. This year, the standard was so high that we have increased the shortlist from 55 to 60 groups in order to showcase even more of Ireland’s inspiring youth-led ECO-Action,” said Elaine Nevin, National Director of ECO-UNESCO. “All of the shortlisted projects show a great deal of creativity and innovation in their approach to protecting the environment and promoting environmental awareness.”
ECO-UNESCO will celebrate the achievements of Ireland’s Young Environmentalists at the Gala Showcase and Awards Ceremony. The public is invited to view the shortlisted projects from 10:00am – 1:30 pm during the Gala Showcase at the Round Room of the Mansion House in Dublin on Tuesday 8th May. Later that afternoon, the winners of the Young Environmentalist Awards 2010 will be announced at the official Awards Ceremony.
Members of the public can choose which group of young people win ‘The People’s Choice Award” at the ECO-UNESCO Young Environmentalist Awards 2012. People logging on to www.ecounesco.ie can view the fantastic shortlisted projects, and vote online for the group they think most deserves to win this coveted award.
