The Great Lakes Guide Web Platform

Session: 17. - Great Lakes Outreach and Education

Krystyn Tully, Swim Drink Fish Canada, [email protected]
Mark Mattson, Swim Drink Fish Canada, [email protected]
Thomas Kankowski, Swim Drink Fish Canada, [email protected]

Abstract

How many people do you know live on or near the Great Lakes? Now, how many of those people ever actually went to one of the Great Lakes? Or how many of those people know specifically where their water comes from? Do you?

The Great Lakes Guide is a web platform commission by the Ontario Ministry of the Environment and Climate Change. It is being built and operated by Swim Drink Fish Canada, the people behind the Swim Guide beach app. The Great Lakes Guide platform is unique in its goal of getting people off of the website and into nature, making this platform only the jumping off point. It will include things to do and a trip planner, but also integrate knowledge and learning throughout. Indigenous perspectives are also key to drawing connections across cultures and will be incorporated throughout the platform.

The first goal is to motivate people to go to the lakes—the next goal is protection. By showing people how their actions affect their watershed and the lakes, we will not only build on the current generation to grow in their stewardship, but also nurture the next generation of Great Lakes protectors.

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Stewardship

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Web Platform

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User Engagement