Student climate action expo taking over Vernon Curling Club for fifth anniversary

Kids tackle climate change

Photo: Contributed

Grade 3 and 4 students from Alexis Park Elementary planted spring flowers in recycled mugs for centrepieces at the annual CARE Expo. Each mug contains an encouraging note written by a student.

Over 500 teachers, and students from across the North Okanagan will be heading to Vernon for the fifth annual Climate Action Ripple Effect (CARE) student expo.

The fifth annual event will be at the Vernon Curling Club on Friday, May 29, from 9:30 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Teachers, students, mentors, and judges from Vernon, Coldstream, and Lumby will gather to showcase and celebrate local youth-led environmental solutions.

The free public expo will feature 150 student project displays focusing on local climate impacts like agriculture, energy, waste, transportation, and human health.

Attendees can also check out a “Recycled Red Carpet” art installation, paintings by Kidston Elementary students, custom centrepieces by Alexis Park Elementary students, and performances by the Coldstream Elementary choir. Local food trucks will be on site, and a free bike valet parking service is available for those cycling to the event.

As part of the anniversary event, 16 student project teams will face off for Community Impact Awards, judging projects on innovative design, energy efficiency, and their overall “ripple effect” within the community.

The initiative has seen massive regional growth since its inception half a decade ago.

“When CARE launched in School District 22 five years ago, 120 students created 32 projects in support of the City of Vernon’s Climate Action Plan and United Nations Sustainable Development Goals,” said CARE program lead Jo de Vries.

The program has since expanded beyond the North Okanagan.

“Our numbers have doubled every year since,” de Vries said. “In 2026, we have almost 1,700 teachers, students, and mentors in School District 22 and School District 23 (Central Okanagan). They collaborated to create 400 projects to address local climate change impacts.”

For more details on the upcoming expo, click here.