On October 14^th and 15^th, 46 youth science volunteers descended on Toronto for our 5^th Annual Volunteers’ Conference. Participants from across the province attended the 2-day event to share ideas, learn new tools and skills that delegates would communicate with their regional organizations.

Based on attendees’ feedback from last year, we took a slightly more relaxed approach to our Friday banquet dinner.  Regional organization introduction slides scrolled on-screen during dinner.  Ms. Rayfield proudly presented Youth Science Ontario’s 2010-2011 achievements, including the unveiling of Youth Science Ontario’s French-language website prototype.   A well-received, somewhat musical, networking bell-ringer ended the evening, which provided the opportunity for delegates to connect to groups they might not otherwise been able.

Fundraising guru and educator, Ken Wyman, kicked-off Saturday morning proceedings with a rousing, interactive keynote address on fundraising for grassroots organizations, otherwise known as “where`s the  money” for youth science organizations.   During Ken’s session, he highlighted organizations that should be approached for fundraising opportunities, described examples, and asked participants to put together an action plan, detailing four organizations they would contact before March 2012. 

Following the keynote address, delegates participated in a full day of workshop sessions. The conference offered a choice of nine different sessions.  Michael Keara of the User Advocate Group led participants through two computer-based sessions on the Regional Web Template, where delegates toured a fully functional template, and followed by the opportunity to create their region’s own website template.  Carolyn Rayfield of Youth Science Ontario guided participants through two different workshops.  Provincial Awards and Support Programs reviewed the Youth Science Ontario awards, resources and grants available for the 2011-2012 seasons; while Promotion and Marketing presented an interactive workshop based-on a case study. 

In the afternoon sessions began with Cynthia Armour, a Certified Fundraising Executive best known for her informative articles on www.CharityVillage.ca, introduced participants to Developing Benefits for Donors & Sponsors, which defined the differences between donors and sponsors and their respective needs, as well as highlighted charitable status considerations for the Canada Revenue Agency.  Youth Science Ontario`s Development Officer, Kelly Smith, presented an outline of Grant Writing, which included some helpful tips. Dr. Patrick Whippey, of the University of Western Ontario and Youth Science Ontario Board Member, spent time reviewing CWSF judging practices in a session devoted to Science Fair Judging Update.  

The final afternoon workshops included a Volunteer Recruitment & Succession Planning session with Adriane Beaudry, the Program Manager at Volunteer MBC (Mississauga, Brampton, Caledon),, where participants developed a practical work plan for their own regions.  Anne Grieve and Anne Range of the Bluewater Regional Science and Technology Fair committee exuberantly detailed their region`s recent successes in their Science Fair Revival…Bluewater Style!  For more on Ken’s keynote address and workshop session materials, please see the “2011 Volunteers’ Conference” in the Resources section of the Members’ area of our website www.youthscienceontario.ca

Youth Science Ontario would like to thank all of the youth science volunteers, workshop presenters and our Board of Directors for not only donating their weekend to attend the conference, but also for their year-round dedication to promoting and celebrating youth science in our Ontario communities.