Jellyfish Project

Discipline: Music
Homebase: Sunshine Coast - the traditional territories of the shíshálh and Sḵwx̱wú7mesh peoples
Regions Available: Lower Mainland, Fraser Valley &, Howe Sound, Vancouver Island Lower, Vancouver Island Mid, Interior, Kootenays
Languages: English
Themes: Climate Change and/or Environmentalism
Grant Eligibility: Eligible for 70% AIE

The Jellyfish Project (JFP) presents HOPE IN ACTION, our 2023/24 brand new offering! Vibrant, live musical performances are woven within the engaging slideshow visuals and interactive discussion with students about our environment and our future. Our presenters are professional, young, eco-conscious musicians with the passion and charisma to draw the students in, opening them up to the JFP’s thought-provoking and hope-provoking messages. Our goal is to instill hope by way of action, showing the students that they can make an impact on a personal, as well as a systems change level to address planetary health, aka the environmental crisis. Causes of climate change and biodiversity loss are addressed, but the majority of the presentation is solutions-oriented, helping to mitigate the anxiety and helplessness students may feel by empowering them with the knowledge that they can, in fact, become instruments of change, whether in small or in big ways. They will learn that they are not alone and that there are people of all ages who have been working tirelessly towards a shared vision of a healthy, equitable and sustainable society. Examples of youth climate initiatives as well as groups and organizations that are geared towards young people will be highlighted. As of March 2023, the Jellyfish Project has delivered presentations to over 115,000 students!

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We welcome doing two or three in-person presentations on the same day in the same school to enable smaller audiences and greater interactivity.

Performance(s)

Jellyfish Project - "HOPE IN ACTION"

School Year: 23-24
Discipline: Music, Interdisciplinary
Offered Languages: English
Grade Suitability: 6 - 12
Duration: 60 mins
Capacity: 1000
Tech Requirements: In-School: large screen, projector, PA system, tech support person. Virtual: WiFi, mic, speakers, tech support person. Optional: Student use of their smartphone or tablets for interactive polling.
Available Formats: In Person, Virtual

The Jellyfish Project's 2023/24 musician presenters are: Avery Florence, and Luke Wallace. Avery, a soft-soul artist, merges her passion for music and nature. In 2022 she produced Wake Up!, a musical tour across Canada bringing together communities to inspire environmental activism. Avery released her debut EP "January" in 2018 followed by a sold-out tour in Ontario and NYC. Luke’s message-driven songwriting contributes to the soundtrack for a movement of people rising up to meet the social and environmental challenges of our times. You can find him at folk festivals all over the West Coast or leading rally-sing-a-longs at Canada’s biggest climate marches. His fifth record, “What on Earth”, was released in March 2020. Either Avery or Luke will be presenting at your school, and both have experience teaching and leading students through explorations of musical creativity and environmental action.

Jellyfish Project "Climate A-Chord"

School Year: 22-23
Discipline: Music
Offered Languages: English
Grade Suitability: 6 - 12
Duration: 45-60 mins
Capacity: 500
Tech Requirements: In-school: large screen, projector, tech support person. Virtual: Wi-Fi, laptops or screen, mic, speakers, tech support person.
Available Formats: In Person, Virtual

The presentation features musical performances by a Jellyfish Project band interspersed with a TED Talk-style presentation and Q&A. Our message of hope helps to mitigate the fear and helplessness students may feel by empowering them with the knowledge that they can become instruments of change. The Jellyfish Project's primary presenters are Laura Mina Mitic and Pat Ferguson from the band Carmanah. Since 2014 they have delivered the JFP presentation to over 100 schools from Vancouver Island to Windsor, ON. On their travels and consistent with their values, Carmanah lessens their ecological footprint by fueling their tour vehicle with used vegetable oil procured from restaurants along the way. Laura and Pat are passionate about using art as a form of activism. Their music is a portal to speak about the urgent need for systemic change to deal with the climate crisis.

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Testimonials & Reviews

The Jellyfish Project presentation reinvigorated discussions about climate change in our school, which is really important! The music was terrific, which made it engaging and fun. Cael Read, Grade 11 student at Elphinstone Secondary, Gibsons, BC - February 2023

The Jellyfish Project delivered a presentation at my school in Regina when I was a kid. It lit a fire under me that has never been put out. My eyes and mindset widened; I felt empowered and connected to the world and the crisis we're facing for the first time ever. Now, at 25, that presentation still reminds me that I am empowered to make a change and I have chosen to spend my professional and personal time working to fight the climate crisis and build a more sustainable world. Samira Wagner, Vancouver, the unceded territories of the Musqueam, Squamish, & Tsleil-Waututh Nations - March 2022

The entire performance package was completely impressive. I rarely see that in high school message performances. I think a huge part of this was the presenters themselves. They were completely professional, engaging, phenomenal speakers, well-informed, confident/competent, reachable...the whole package! Not to mention WOW were they fabulous musicians! Their music was really accessible for students as well. You did a fantastic job creating a moving, real and relevant presentation for youth. Kaia Nielsen, Teacher, The Spider Program, Sunshine Coast BC - February 2020

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