In celebration of Canada Water Week this week and Fridaysa国际传媒檚 UN World Water Day, the Okanagan Basin Water Boardsa国际传媒檚 program has re-launched its seventh youth challenge, inviting young people to be climate heroes.

sa国际传媒淲e are all witnessing and living the effects of climate change, right here in our own valley,sa国际传媒� said OBWB communications director Corinne Jackson, who also manages the Okanagan WaterWise outreach and education program. sa国际传媒淵oung people are increasingly aware of the extreme weather events we are experiencing, from historic flooding that threaten homes and close beaches, to repeated droughts that require conservation to ensure enough water for food production and returning salmon. Theysa国际传媒檝e also experienced record-breaking temperatures, and wildfires affecting the air they breathe, the water they drink, and more.sa国际传媒�

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sa国际传媒淏ut itsa国际传媒檚 not good enough to be aware. We want to encourage and empower young people to take action. The fact is we have solutions and itsa国际传媒檚 time to put those solutions into action for a secure water future,sa国际传媒� she said.

The theme for this yearsa国际传媒檚 challenge was inspired by the documentary Beyond Climate, recently screened by at UBC Okanagan. Directed by Ian Mauro, narrated by David Suzuki, and featuring several Okanagan residents, the film is a timely, touching and hopeful look at how climate change is affecting us here in the valley and around B.C., and how we can turn this around, according to an OBWB news release.

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This yearsa国际传媒檚 Okanagan WaterWise Challenge invites local classrooms, as well as individuals, five to 18, to be a climate hero by participating in various activities that can improve our water and our planet. A special page has been set up at . By clicking on the sa国际传媒淐hallengesa国际传媒� button, teachers, parents and youth will find contest details, including activities to learn more about the issues we are facing, and challenges to tackle these issues head-on.

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Challenges include joining the popular #trashtag effort to clean wetlands, creeks and beaches. Wetlands are important for many reasons including flood protection and as carbon sinks. Other potential activities include planting indigenous trees to absorb carbon and give off oxygen, the release said.

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Participants will be entered to win water prizes including, for class entries, a two-hour boat charter on Okanagan Lake for an on-the-water classroom experience to learn more about the water of our valley. Entries are due April 30. Full details are at .

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