Youth Fusion’s Urban Environment Project

Increasing Youth Participation in Urban Planning through Place-Based Environmental Education

Abstract

Communities and planners alike have come to understand the potential benefits of youth participation in the planning of urban spaces. School retention is also seen as a societal priority. This field report presents a classroom program developed and piloted at a public high school in Montreal to explore how place-based education can be used to facilitate youth participation and school perseverance. Following a review of this program, its objectives, and its implementation, we conclude with a discussion of challenges and opportunities associated with place-based education.