1. The International Polar Year Youth Steering Committee (YSC) Amber Church and Tyler Kuhn IPY Discussion Forum, ICARP II November, 2005 Amber Church and Tyler Kuhn IPY Discussion Forum, ICARP II November, 2005

2. Mandate The Youth Steering Committee (YSC) was proposed to address the need for the inclusion of youth in the International Polar Year (IPY) Includes youth from diverse backgrounds (science, social science, arts, indigenous groups), locations (both polar and non-polar nations) and ages (high school through post- doc) The Youth Steering Committee (YSC) was proposed to address the need for the inclusion of youth in the International Polar Year (IPY) Includes youth from diverse backgrounds (science, social science, arts, indigenous groups), locations (both polar and non-polar nations) and ages (high school through post- doc)

3. Formation The Canadian IPY Steering Committee approved the Canadian YSC (June 28) The International YSC first announced at “Poles Together: Coordinating IPY Outreach and Education” Workshop (July 20-22) Full IPY proposal for the YSC was submitted on September 30 (Proposal ID # 168) and has now been officially endorsed The Canadian IPY Steering Committee approved the Canadian YSC (June 28) The International YSC first announced at “Poles Together: Coordinating IPY Outreach and Education” Workshop (July 20-22) Full IPY proposal for the YSC was submitted on September 30 (Proposal ID # 168) and has now been officially endorsed

4. Structure Regional representatives for countries from around the world (no max number) Regional representatives will be responsible for being the direct link between their national YSC’s and the international group Executive of 7 (2 co-chairs, a treasurer, a secretary, and 3 directors) Regional representatives for countries from around the world (no max number) Regional representatives will be responsible for being the direct link between their national YSC’s and the international group Executive of 7 (2 co-chairs, a treasurer, a secretary, and 3 directors)

5. Membership Canada, New Zealand, the United States, Netherlands, Portugal, Belgium, Russia, UK, Germany and RAIPON Expected to join soon: Denmark, France, Mongolia, Ukraine and Argentina as well as several Arctic Indigenous groups including the Sámi, Gwich’in and Inuit Canada, New Zealand, the United States, Netherlands, Portugal, Belgium, Russia, UK, Germany and RAIPON Expected to join soon: Denmark, France, Mongolia, Ukraine and Argentina as well as several Arctic Indigenous groups including the Sámi, Gwich’in and Inuit

6. Projects: IYCP International Youth Conference on the Poles Late April, 2008 Presentations of youth IPY research, roundtables for youth to put forward policies on polar issues, polar fair, presentations of high school year long IPY projects Confirmed keynotes: Wade Davis, Shelia Watt- Cloutier and Geoff Green International Youth Conference on the Poles Late April, 2008 Presentations of youth IPY research, roundtables for youth to put forward policies on polar issues, polar fair, presentations of high school year long IPY projects Confirmed keynotes: Wade Davis, Shelia Watt- Cloutier and Geoff Green

7. Projects: Website A portal for youth involvement in IPY Opportunities for youth involvement in IPY Education centre about polar issues with downloadable materials for youth to educate their peers and communities Online mentorship program (Youth Science Foundation Canada) It is hoped that full funding will be secured in Dec. 2005 and construction will begin in Jan. 2006 A portal for youth involvement in IPY Opportunities for youth involvement in IPY Education centre about polar issues with downloadable materials for youth to educate their peers and communities Online mentorship program (Youth Science Foundation Canada) It is hoped that full funding will be secured in Dec. 2005 and construction will begin in Jan. 2006

8. Projects: IGY Connecting youth to participants of the International Geophysical Year (IGY) Informal interview setting Opportunity for IGY participants to share their experiences/ideas with the next generation of polar researchers and leaders Developed into a book and/or documentary (Students on Ice) at the close of IPY Connecting youth to participants of the International Geophysical Year (IGY) Informal interview setting Opportunity for IGY participants to share their experiences/ideas with the next generation of polar researchers and leaders Developed into a book and/or documentary (Students on Ice) at the close of IPY

9. Projects: Legacy What do the world’s youth feel that the outcomes and legacies of IPY should be? Compile into a policy document Use to assess the progress of IPY during 2007-2009 and after the close of IPY use to assess how successful the program has been Solicit input through YSC website with an online data entry form What do the world’s youth feel that the outcomes and legacies of IPY should be? Compile into a policy document Use to assess the progress of IPY during 2007-2009 and after the close of IPY use to assess how successful the program has been Solicit input through YSC website with an online data entry form

10. Projects: Other Examples Students on Ice-YSC Expeditions Polar School’s Pack Katimavik Training Programs Tales of the Wonder Zone Students on Ice-YSC Expeditions Polar School’s Pack Katimavik Training Programs Tales of the Wonder Zone

11. Collaboration UNESCO/IOC Canadian Polar Commission the Arctic and Antarctic Research Institute of Roshydromet International Arctic Social Sciences Association Inuit Circumpolar Youth Council Permafrost Young Researchers Network Katimavik Arctic Council Youth Network ArcticNet Student’s Association Youth Science Foundation Canada Students on Ice 2007 Canada Winter Games Host Committee Northern Strategy’s Youth Strategy UNESCO/IOC Canadian Polar Commission the Arctic and Antarctic Research Institute of Roshydromet International Arctic Social Sciences Association Inuit Circumpolar Youth Council Permafrost Young Researchers Network Katimavik Arctic Council Youth Network ArcticNet Student’s Association Youth Science Foundation Canada Students on Ice 2007 Canada Winter Games Host Committee Northern Strategy’s Youth Strategy

12. EoI’s Hudson Bay Summit Project Polar Partnership Program Students Partners Program Circumpolar Indigenous Youth Conservation Network Youth Links Students Symposium IPY Snowflake Program Hudson Bay Summit Project Polar Partnership Program Students Partners Program Circumpolar Indigenous Youth Conservation Network Youth Links Students Symposium IPY Snowflake Program

13. Legacies of YSC The YSC will leave in place a network of motivated youth that will ensure that attention of and research on the Polar Regions will not lapse once IPY has passed. It ensures that this once in a generation opportunity will extend past its official two year time span.