Sustainability Leaders Volunteer Program 2026-2027

Sustainability Leaders is a student volunteer program hosted by the Office of Sustainability at Lakehead University. 

Each Sustainability Leader is an active ambassador for sustainability initiatives at Lakehead University.  Sustainability Leaders connect with on and off campus audiences (students, faculty, staff, other organizations, and community members) to inform and generate support for sustainability initiatives, programs, and events at Lakehead University. The goal is for each Sustainability Leader to choose one or two initiatives on campus to consistently support throughout the school year. 

Responsibilities: 

  • Assist Sustainability Coordinator with programming and events throughout the school year (e.g., clothing closets, trash to treasure, living wall, campus beautification days, research and innovation week, repair cafe, sustainability walk, Two-Eyed Seeing Walk, reusable container programs, orientation, library carnival, Earth Day, Research and Innovation Week). 

    • Create materials (print and digital) for programming and events

    • Represent the Office of Sustainability at events 

    • Attend occasional meetings

    • Collect data 

  • May include the following based on volunteer’s skills and interest:

    • Opportunity to plan and facilitate some of the events

    • Contributing to monthly newsletters

    • Assisting with other areas of communications, programming, and administrative support as needed and/or desired. 

Skills and Knowledge Learned through the Program (will vary by student): 

  • How sustainability is implemented in a postsecondary institution 

  • Planning, marketing, preparing materials, and facilitating events, programs, and initiatives

  • Advanced organizational skills 

  • Advanced teamwork skills

  • Advanced written and oral communication skills 

  • Content creation for digital and print communications 

  • Data Collection & Analysis - quantitative and qualitative 

  • Communicating research or program results in accessible ways for multiple audiences (digital, print, and oral)

  • Critical thinking and problem solving

Qualifications:

  • Current Lakehead University student (undergraduate or graduate)

  • Enthusiasm for sustainability and related fields such as: social justice, climate action, ecology, food systems, decolonization, social and ecological determinants of health.

  • Able to work within the Lakehead University Communications and Branding Guidelines when creating content.

  • Detail oriented, organized, reliable, and creative

  • Excellent oral and written professional communication skills including conversation and customer service skills (helpful, friendly, patient). 

  • Able to work independently and as part of a team 

Benefits:

  • Meet and build community with students, staff, faculty, and community members who also care about, and lead,  sustainability efforts on and off campus. 

  • After 25 hours volunteering, the Office of Sustainability will be willing to write you a reference letter.

How to Sign Up:

If you would like to join the Sustainability Leaders program, fill out this Google Form.  Students can join at any time in the year.