The Government of Alberta, scientists, and the public have long acknowledged the role that our boreal forest plays in carbon sequestration (Thurton 2018). Often overlooked, however, are southern Alberta’s grasslands ecosystems, whose substantial carbon stocks are potentially 150% greater than those in forests (Chang et al 2021; Wang et al 2014). In Alberta, only 48% of native grasslands remain and they face multiple threats, such as urban and agricultural expansion, resource development, and recreation (Prairie Conservation Forum 2019). Researchers, Indigenous communities, and conservation advocates have emphasized the need for grasslands protection in the face of climate change (CPAWS 2010).

In the summer of 2025, the Southern Alberta chapter of the Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society (CPAWS) and Dr. Sabrina Perić from the Energy Stories Lab partnered together on a field course, Alberta Grasslands Stories, which aims to connect Alberta youth with the Indigenous communities, agricultural producers, ranchers, conservationists, scientists, and local residents who have extensive knowledge of and experiences on Southern Alberta’s grasslands. Through an immersive 5-day experiential land-based learning course, we worked to:

1) raise youth awareness about the critical role of grasslands in carbon sequestration and combatting the impacts of climate change;

2) provide Alberta youth with an opportunity to learn about the importance of grasslands directly from the people who live, work, and research on the grasslands;

3) present Alberta youth with a multiple knowledge systems approach to grasslands through engagement with Indigenous, local, and scientific knowledge systems; and

4) provide youth participants with the skills and equipment to create their own digital stories, reflecting on their experience of grasslands spaces and people.

Below are photos taken by the students that attended the week long field school. Take a look here to check out their creative final projects!