Human caused climate change is real and the impact is devastating for nature. Your Toronto Zoo is taking steps to address our cumulative impact and needs your help.

The new CALL Project was created to support and engage youth from underrepresented communities to take action to combat climate change. CALL stands for Climate Action Learning and Leadership and this initiative began right here in Scarborough.

The program is designed to provide youth with the knowledge and skills to create their own climate change call to action in their neighbourhoods and wider networks. Our plan is to raise awareness of the opportunities and build pathways into the career fields of climate change and conservation science. Your Toronto Zoo and the Toronto Zoo Wildlife Conservancy are proud to be the recipient of an approximate $380,000 grant through the Government of Canada’s Climate Action and Awareness Fund (CAAF) this past summer to launch this important work.

The Toronto Zoo's CALL project will help youth to find their calling in the career fields of climate change and conservation science. The program includes working with community partners to identify individuals from these communities to participate in the project and helps zoo staff to understand the needs of these communities to ensure we can work together to deliver meaningful experiences.

Program partners such as WoodGreen and Storefront have worked with participants to create digital tools/platforms for participants to share their knowledge and engage their community, through youth teaching youth, social media, and other methods. The CALL program offered 12-week 'Climate Action' paid internships for eight participants aged 18 to 30 and paid experiences for 40 individuals aged 15 to 17 leading the 'Engaging Climate Action Champions Leadership' program.

In addition, participants will work with Toronto Zoo staff on action-oriented projects, both at the zoo site and in their home community. These climate focused projects include connecting with zoo guests at the polar bear exhibit, conducting virtual field trips for external youth groups, producing content for social media, and - back in their neighborhoods - collaborating with community partners.

As with the internship program, these experiences will flow into additional opportunities for these youth such as integrating them into our volunteer program and providing them with hands-on experiences when applying for positions at the zoo or likeminded organizations that are committed to protecting biodiversity.

Your Toronto Zoo is committed to the important role of conservation education. With that commitment in mind we are excited to work alongside critical community partners to expand our outreach and engage youth to take meaningful action to combat climate change and make a positive impact.