Season 3, Episode 20: Chris

Mar 24, 2026 · 18 min · Ep 20

In Season 3, Episode 20 of Climate Action Figures, host John Whidden welcomes Chris from the Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society (CPAWS) and shares a QuickFix from Shaurya recommending the Outrage and Optimism podcast for hopeful climate conversations. Chris explains CPAWS’s conservation advocacy and public engagement, then details CPAWS Southern Alberta’s Youth Conservation Collective (YCC), a program for 15 to 18-year-olds that supports marginalized youth and others with environmental passion through mentorship, networking, field trips, and youth-led conservation projects tied to CPAWS campaigns (e.g., coal mining impacts on waterways and trout, sustainable forestry and stewardship). YCC is funded primarily by Environment and Climate Change Canada. Chris cites Steve Irwin as an inspiration, encourages writing MLAs/MPs as climate action, and finds hope in building community, especially through YCC.

00:00 Welcome and QuickFix

01:23 Why CPAWS Matters

03:03 Youth Conservation Collective

04:00 Who Can Join

05:09 Mentors and Matching

05:56 Apply and Program Flow

07:18 Projects and Campaigns

09:09 Time Commitment

10:47 Year One Highlights

12:28 Building Conservation Community

13:18 Funding the Program

14:09 Chris Inspirations