Young people belong at the table: Introducing YORAC
Image: UBC Varsity Outdoor Club.
ORCBC is excited to introduce the Youth Outdoor Recreation Advisory Collective, or YORAC, and invite young people from across B.C. to apply to be part of its first cohort.
YORAC is a new province-wide initiative designed to get young people outside, build leadership skills, and create more space for youth voices in shaping the future of outdoor recreation in B.C.
Outdoor recreation plays a huge role in the lives of many people across the province. It supports health and well-being, brings communities together, connects people to nature, and creates opportunities for learning, stewardship, and belonging. But too often, young people are invited to participate without being given meaningful opportunities to lead, share ideas, or help shape decisions.
YORAC is one way ORCBC is working to change that.
The collective will bring together young people aged 15 to 25 from communities across British Columbia to share ideas, identify barriers, and help guide future outdoor recreation programming, communications, and engagement. The goal is to make sure youth perspectives are reflected in the conversations and decisions that affect the future of outdoor recreation in B.C.
Whether you are already deeply involved in outdoor recreation or are just starting to explore activities like hiking, mountain biking, fishing, paddling, horseback riding, dirt biking, or other outdoor pursuits, we encourage you to apply.
As a YORAC member, you will have opportunities to connect with other youth from across B.C., build leadership and communication skills, learn from experienced outdoor recreation leaders, contribute to real projects and discussions, and help organize at least one outdoor recreation activity in your community.
YORAC members will be supported by ORCBC staff and board members and will help shape the future of ORCBC’s Youth Engagement Program. Participation will involve a commitment of about five hours per month over one year, from September 2026 to August 2027.
This is a great opportunity to grow as a leader, meet other young people who care about the outdoors, and help make outdoor recreation more welcoming, accessible, and youth-informed across the province.
Who Should Apply?
We are looking for young people who are:
Between the ages of 15 and 25
Interested in or already involved in outdoor recreation
Curious, collaborative, and ready to learn
Interested in leadership, community, stewardship, or outdoor access
Excited to share ideas and help shape the future of outdoor recreation in B.C.
You do not need to be an expert, athlete, or experienced leader to apply. We are looking for a range of experiences, interests, backgrounds, and perspectives from across the province.
Key Dates
Applications are open from June 23 to July 26, 2026.
All applicants will hear back from ORCBC in August, and the first YORAC cohort will begin in September 2026.
We will also be hosting two optional information sessions for youth who want to learn more before applying:
Info Session 1: July 9, 2026 at 1:00 PM PT
Info Session 2: July 21, 2026 at 6:00 PM PT
These sessions will cover what YORAC is, what participation could look like, and provide time to ask questions about the opportunity.
Apply To Join YORAC
We are looking forward to building this with youth from across B.C. and seeing the ideas, energy, and perspectives that come forward through this process.
The deadline to apply is Sunday, July 26, 2026.
If access to technology is a barrier or you have questions about the application process, please contact Nathan Wilson, Youth Engagement Coordinator, at youth@orcbc.ca.