This Christmas, you can make a difference and become part of Ireland’s biggest celebration of ECO-Action. Recycle your Christmas waste to create something new and enter your project into the Young Environmentalist Awards 2012.

Award Categories include: ECO-Art & Design

Register your project today! Click here for FREE ONLINE RESTRATION . Or contact the YEA team at: yea@ecounesco.ie / t (01) 662 5491. Registration deadline 23 Dec 2011.

Registration is free and you may change your project idea after registration.All registered projects will receive free support from our designated ECO-UNESCO YEA team.

Simply click here to register

Extended Deadline for Registration: 23 Dec 2011

 www.wastematchers.com is Cork’s reuse website. Whether you’re looking for a home for your no-longer-used stuff or looking for some treasure, this free site is the first stop. Free to use for all members, the site is supported by Cork County Council as a means of creating awareness around waste minimisation and diverting

It’s not too late to register! Extended deadline – 23rd December 2011

Click here to register now!

We will have lots of fun environmental activities, which include recycling in a creative station, children’s readings, information on Education and Training and much more.

Come and meet us at The Greenhouse – 17 St Andrew Street, Dublin 2 – from 6pm to 11pm. See you there!!

Thanks to young people from Castelblaney for taking part in the launch. Great costume! Not only does it look good, it also shows the human impact on the water system.

Has your group registered yet?

REGISTER NOW!
Groups of young people aged 10 to 18 have until November 25th to register for the  prestigious awards on www.ecounesco.ie

CALLING ALL YOUNG ENVIRONMENTALISTS!
Registration open for Ireland’s biggest celebration of youth ECO-Action: ECO-UNESCO Young Environmentalist Awards 2012

Registration is now open for Ireland’s most exciting environmental awards programme for young people, the ECO-UNESCO Young Environmentalist Awards. The Awards recognise and reward the green achievements of any group of young people, aged 10-18, who want to take action on key environmental issues such as climate change, energy, waste, biodiversity, transport and more. Over 25,000 young people have been involved to date, with record numbers expected to take part in the all-island programme run by ECO-UNESCO, Ireland’s environmental education and youth organisation, this year.

“Last year’s awards saw innovative young people from across Ireland come up with real solutions to local and global issues, through projects ranging from carbon footprint apps to guerrilla gardening groups, from biodiversity trails to a dam building project on the river Corrib and even a climate change campaign involving polar bears made of recycled materials being placed around Dublin city! We are looking forward to more outstanding projects this year. Through these projects young people are taking action and raising awareness about important environmental issues among their peers, their schools and youth groups and the community as a whole.” said Elaine Nevin, National Director of ECO-UNESCO.

Each May, ECO-UNESCO hosts the ECO-UNESCO Young Environmentalist Awards Showcase and Awards Ceremony to honour the outstanding green achievements of young people from youth groups and schools across Ireland and Northern Ireland. The ECO-UNESCO Young Environmentalist Awards programme has been running on an all-island basis for 13 years, with over 25,000 young people becoming involved over that time. Numbers have been growing each year, and in 2011 over 4,000 young people participated, many of them showcasing their projects at an exhibition held in the Mansion House, Dublin, last May. The National Showcase, attracts hundreds of young people who get an opportunity to show their environmental project work to the public.

Participants in ECO-UNESCO’s Young Environmentalist Awards have until February 2012 to complete their project in one of nine categories including climate change, biodiversity, energy, waste and transport. Once registered, ECO-UNESCO Young Environmentalist Awards groups can avail of ECO-UNESCO’s advice and support as their projects progress. Registration for ECO-UNESCO’s Young Environmentalist Awards 2012 closes on November 25^th 2011.

Teachers and youth leaders can register groups of 2-20 young people on www.ecounesco.ie or by contacting ECO-UNESCO at +353 1 6625491 yea@ecounesco.ie.

ENDS

For further information, please contact:

ECO-UNESCO Communications Officer E. communications@ecounesco.ie T. +353 1 6625491

INTERVIEW OPPORTUNITY: Elaine Nevin, National Director of ECO-UNESCO is available for phone interviews on the environmental work of young people in Irish youth groups and schools. Interviews with previous winning or shortlisted groups in your area can also be arranged.

Notes to Editor:

ABOUT ECO-UNESCO

ECO-UNESCO (www.ecounesco.ie) is Ireland’s environmental education and youth organisation. The organisation aims to raise environmental awareness, promote the protection and conservation of the environment, and promote the personal development of young people. ECO-UNESCO is affiliated to the World Federation of UNESCO Clubs, Centres and Associations (WFUCA). ECO-UNESCO is a registered charity (CHY 7225)

ABOUT THE ECO-UNESCO YOUNG ENVIRONMENTALIST AWARDS

ECO-UNESCO’s Young Environmentalist Awards is an awards programme that empowers young people to become better citizens, build awareness of environmental issues and promote simple lifestyle changes to improve the environment. The Young Environmentalist Awards is funded annually by the Department of Environment, Heritage, and Local Government; Department of the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs; Department of Transport; The Environmental Protection Agency; COMHAR Sustainable Development Council; and Dublin City Council.

KEY DATES:

Registration Deadline: November 25th 2011

Project Submission Deadline: February 24th 2012

National Showcase and Awards Ceremony: May 9th 2012

For more information on ECO-UNESCO’s Young Environmentalist Awards visit www.ecounesco.ie

To get a look back at the journey to the ECO-UNESCO’s Young Environmentalist Awards 2011, read our On the Road blog at http://ecounesco.wordpress.com

Using environmental hub The Greenhouse, Dublin 2, as a base from which to explore nature in the heart of the city, ECO-Explorers – ECO-UNESCO’s Summer Camp for Children – is an environmental summer camp with a difference, providing a safe environment for children to discover the natural treasures of Dublin City centre.

The Camp is run by ECO-UNESCO, Ireland’s environmental education and youth organisation, which has over 25 years experience working with children and young people raising environmental awareness in a fun, interactive and creative way. ECO-UNESCO’s staff­ are fully qualified in all areas of environmental education.

Children explore and learn about nature and the world around them through outdoor adventures, interactive games, hands-on activities and much more. Taking a city centre safari and treasure trail, building a bug hotel, starting a sunflower race and even launching an ECO-Rocket are some of the activities young people taking part can look forward to whilst learning about their environment and nature and having lots of fun!

ECO-UNESCO is taking bookings now with an Early Bird price of €90 and further discounts available.

Simply contact ECO-UNESCO’s Environmental Youth Officer on t: 01 662 5491 e: youth@ecounesco.iew: www.ecounesco.ie

>>> VIEW Complete list of winners
ECO-UNESCO Young Environmentalist Awards 2011

Frances Fitzgerald, Minister for Children and Youth Affairs officially opened the ECO-UNESCO Young Environmentalist Awards 2011 with an uplifting speech congratulating over 600 young environmentalists present for their work among their peers, their schools and youth groups, and their wider communities.

“You are my heroes!”
Guest of Honour Mary Robinson, former president of Ireland, president of the Mary Robinson Foundation – Climate Justice gave an inspirational closing address at the ECO-UNESCO YOUNG ENVIRONMENTALIST AWARDS on May 24th in the Mansion House, Dublin, with the audience bursting into spontaneous cheering and applause as she told the gathering of over 600 young environmentalists “You are my heroes!”.