Roots & Shoots conference kicks off in Provincetown

Friday, April 30, 2004


PROVINCETOWN - The first "Roots & Shoots Young People's Decade of Commitment Celebration" will enliven the town Sunday afternoon with a wide variety of speakers, entertainment, art and activities.

The event, set for Sunday, May 2 from 1 to 5:30 p.m. at Provincetown Town Hall, will be a celebration of community youth action.

The event is the first time that a portion of the annual Roots & Shoots North American Youth Summit has been open to the public. Founded in 1991 in Tanzania by Dr. Jane Goodall, world-renowned scientist and humanitarian, there are now more than 4,000 chapters in 70 countries. The program is designed to engage and inspire youth of all ages through service-learning projects and is grounded in Goodall's belief that every individual can make a positive difference in the world.

Sunday's celebration is a multi-media festival bringing together the summit participants from across North America and the youth of Cape Cod to share their accomplishments, ideas and future plans with each other and the general public.

The event features showcased service projects, student panels, and guest speakers; performances by young people passionate about the arts, poetry, dance, and music; hands-on activities for the whole family; the creation of a giant art mural; giant puppets, presentations by the Jane Goodall Institute, Center for Coastal Studies and the Earthwatch Institute. It will culminate with a parade of larger-than-life puppets and all participants down Commercial Street.

The Jane Goodall Institute chose Cape Cod as the site of the 2004 youth summit because of energy and enthusiasm of the Cape's young people, not only in the 10 Roots & Shoots chapters from Sandwich to Provincetown but also in other youth organizations as well. The Cape Cod Lighthouse Charter School has an active Roots & Shoots, and alumni began a group at Nauset Regional High School as well.

Approximately 100 middle and high school students are selected each year to attend the summit, chosen from more than 20,000 Roots & Shoots members across North America. They convene to share ideas and strategies that will enhance their ability to serve as effective leaders in their home communities. Goodall spends time with the students and concludes the summit with an inspirational speech.

The 2004 Roots & Shoots Summit is being held from April 30 through May 5 at Camp Farley in Mashpee and in Provincetown. With the exception of the May 2 event, the summit is closed to the public.