Nature Canada’s Women for Nature are proud to celebrate Kaite Martin of Kimberley, as a recipient of our 2025 Young Nature Leaders Grant. This grant encourages, fosters and nurtures youth to demonstrate their leadership in nature.

Kaite is leading the National Lake Blitz, a citizen-science initiative that brings together volunteers of all ages across Canada to monitor and protect freshwater lakes. Now in its fifth year, the program has engaged hundreds in collecting valuable data on water temperature, clarity, and shoreline health while encouraging mentorship, environmental learning, and intergenerational collaboration.

This past May, Kaite led a series of engagement sessions aimed at empowering a new generation of water stewards, including both youth and seniors.

In Kaslo, she facilitated a hands-on workshop for local seniors, introducing lake monitoring techniques, native plant identification, and providing the tools needed to begin tracking their own lake’s health. To engage younger audiences, Kaite partnered with NatureKidsBC to host an interactive virtual event featuring stories, games, and sensory activities designed to spark curiosity about freshwater ecosystems.

A Summer Challenge is now in development to further encourage youth participation!

Kaite sees this work as a meaningful way to build connections between people and nature. She shares that, “citizen science is about more than just data – it’s about connection. Through the National Lake Blitz, we’re empowering youth and seniors alike to become stewards of their local lakes. By fostering curiosity, sharing knowledge, and learning together, we’re helping protect these ecosystems for generations to come.” 

Kaite is a Young Nature Leader alongside these other amazing local youth leaders:

Wendy Ihama of St. John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador;

Mehvish Khanam of Scarborough, Ontario;

Megan Castelino of Thorold, Ontario;

Jasmin Skinner of London, Ontario;

Aidan Williams Dale of Brampton, Ontario.

The Young Nature Leaders Grant began in 2017 to empower youth to develop and implement a youth-led, community-based project centered around nature and sustainability in Canada. This year’s recipients join an impressive list of previous recipients with unique and complementary ideas.

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