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CBEEN is a Non-Profit Society and Registered Charity. Our mission is to encourage environmental stewardship and sustainability in the Canadian Columbia Basin by supporting environmental educators. The Columbia Basin Environmental Education Network (CBEEN) was born out of a shared sense of identity and from the common desire to support and promote EE on a regional scale. Over the past 10 years CBEEN has grown from a small group of passionate educators to a large and vibrant network of educators from across the Columbia Basin and beyond.

Our goals:

Maintain a vibrant and engaged network of educators in the Canadian Columbia Basin, and provide this network with excellent environmental education professional development resources and opportunities.

Facilitate collaboration amongst members, partner organizations, and Basin communities to effectively achieve our shared mandates and vision.

Undertake a process to better role model and support diversity, equity, and inclusion in the field of Environmental Education.

Expand network to increase engagement with and support for early years educators.

Maintain a sustainable organization which has effective and ethical governance in accordance with its non-profit and charitable status.

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The Energy Revealed program offers a flexible range of activities for junior and senior learners, with lessons that can be completed in as little as one hour, up to 1 week. Shorter lessons include classroom energy audits and tracking energy use, while activities like building and testing solar ovens, or generating energy through physical activities may span 3-5 days or up to a week. This flexible timing allows educators to choose lessons that best fit their schedule while still offering meaningful, real-world learning experiences.

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Get to Galiano Island easily with BC Ferries! We're a short 1-1.5 hour trip from the Tsawwassen ferry terminal in Vancouver or the Swartz Bay ferry terminal in Victoria. Our hands-on, nature-based programs have proudly been developed over 20+ years. Programs serve to introduce youth to nature in a fun, safe and meaningful way. Our activities are designed to reflect the BC K-12 curriculum, resonate local Indigenous voices and foster youth environmental leadership.

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The imaginED website describes the theory and practice of IEE--an imagination-focused approach to teaching that engages the body, emotion and imagination with Place to cultivate a sense of belonging and long-lasting connections with the natural world.

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The Plant-Based Eating Toolkit for Schools is a free resource designed to help students and educators advocate for plant-based food options in schools. It provides step-by-step guidance on starting school clubs, engaging decision-makers, and running awareness campaigns. The toolkit includes letter-writing templates, success stories, and practical tips for increasing plant-based options in cafeterias and events.

This toolkit is accessible nationwide and can be downloaded for free. It is suitable for student clubs, teachers, and school communities looking to introduce more plant-forward initiatives in cafeterias and school programs.

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This field trip is offered in spring (April, May, June) and fall (September and October) at our schoolyard farms in Vancouver.

Situated at Vancouver Technical and David Thompson secondary schools, our schoolyard farms are a short walk from many secondary schools and community centers. All field trips include farm work experience and a chance to harvest and taste vegetables, when seasonally available. Email us about different field trip time and duration opinions. We require 1 teacher/chaperone for every 8 grade K-3 students and for every 10 grade 4-12 students.

Max number of students: 30

Learn more and book your trip at https://freshroots.ca/learn-on-the-farm/.

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Sturgeon are amazing fish that have been around since the time of the dinosaurs. Human influences over the past 150 years have threatened their existence. In this program, students will learn about the sturgeon life cycle, survival needs, and what we can do to protect this remarkable species.

Grades: K-7                          Length: 1.5 hours               Maximum group size: 30 students

Program Components:

Introduction to sturgeon, threats to their survival, and conservation efforts.

Explore sturgeon anatomy and life cycle, using models and biological specimens.

Play a board game as a sturgeon attempting to reach adulthood.

Age-dependent activity

Felt Board Habitat (K-3): Using a felt board, represent the many stages of a sturgeon’s life. Tagging Lesson (4-7): Perform biological tests on a model sturgeon, such as taking measurements and determining age.

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Active For Life (AFL) is a non-profit national organization funded by B2ten, a registered Canadian charity. AFL allocates 100% of its resources to engaging key decision-makers—educators and parents—to encourage Active Play in children. We achieve this by offering free, customized resources proven to overcome barriers to children’s physical activity.

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Indigenous people have relied on salmon since the fish became abundant in the Fraser River about 5000-6000 years ago. This program explores the connection between Indigenous people and salmon on the Fraser River. Students get hands-on experience with fishing technology, learn about wind-drying salmon, and discover that salmon is in the hearts of Indigenous people living along the Fraser River today.

Grade: 4-7                           Length: 1.5 hours                Maximum group size: 30 students

Program Components:

Watch and discuss a film, featuring two Indigenous Elders telling stories about how Salmon came to the Fraser River, and their connections to the Fraser River.

Explore authentic and replica tools to learn about Indigenous fishing techniques, and create a group presentation.

Learn about wind-drying salmon through the replica drying rack, and practice sharpening a kwetsetel (Indigenous slate knife).

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Time travel into the PAST and FUTURE to see the impact of our actions on the ENVIRONMENT and ECONOMY,

Study BC WATERSHEDS,

Show possible ECOREGION SHIFTS as a result of CLIMATE CHANGE,

See the impact of Beneficial MANAGEMENT Practices,

Use the CITIZEN SCIENCE TOOL to store and share water quality data,

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Explore the wonders of the Skeena Watershed and Pacific salmon with our free educational resources and workshops! Tailored for Northern BC communities, our downloadable lesson plans include engaging activities on salmon life cycles, habitat restoration, and ecosystem connections. Interactive classroom workshops, led by expert educators, bring these topics to life with hands-on learning. Workshops are free and available to schools and groups within the Skeena region. Inspire the next generation to protect our natural heritage!

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This field trip is offered in spring (April, May, June) and fall (September and October) at our schoolyard farms in Vancouver. Situated at Vancouver Technical and David Thompson Secondary schools, our schoolyard farms are a short walk from many secondary schools and community centers. All field trips include farm work experience and a chance to harvest and taste vegetables, when seasonally available. Email us about different field trip time and duration opinions. We require 1 teacher/chaperone for every 8 grade K-3 students and for every 10 grade 4-12 students.

Max number of students: 30

Learn more and book your trip at https://freshroots.ca/learn-on-the-farm/.

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PLT Canada's Green Jobs: Exploring Forest Careers provides students with an insightful look into the wide range of career opportunities within the forestry and environmental sectors. Through interactive activities and real-world examples, the guide introduces students to roles such as forest managers, conservationists, wildlife biologists, and environmental educators, highlighting the skills and expertise needed to protect and manage our forests sustainably. By exploring these green careers, students gain an understanding of the important work involved in environmental conservation and the significant role forests play in our ecosystem, inspiring future generations to pursue careers in environmental stewardship.

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These online, self-paced resources will teach students all about killer whales, including the different ecotypes that reside in British Columbia, and the threats to these incredible species at risk. Students will develop group Action Projects, gaining skills in teamwork, organization, and leadership.

These resources are best suited to Grades K-12, and focus on Core Curriculum and Competencies connections in science, social studies, and physical and health education. Resources can be reviewed in a single session (est. 1.5 hours completion time), or used over multiple sessions. These resources can be used in schools, community/youth groups, or other educational settings.

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A field trip to the Suwa’lkh Medicine Garden and Healing Forest at Millside Centre in Coquitlam is like no other Fresh Roots field trip. Our program space includes a native plant propagation greenhouse, medicine and food gardens, small orchard, and a seven-acre forest with a forest classroom and a salmon stream. Field trips at Suwa’lkh incorporate First People’s ways of knowing, helping students connect with Traditional Ecological Knowledge, in both cultivated and natural food lands. Coquitlam field trips have been designed in consultation with Indigenous knowledge keeper Carrie Clark and are co-facilitated, whenever possible, with an Indigenous knowledge keeper.

We require 1 teacher/chaperone for every 8 Grade K-5 students and for every 10 grade 6-12 students at Suwa’lkh. Required adults are included in the group cost; additional adults will be charged at the student rate. If your group needs more adult assistance, please let us know on the registration form.

Learn more and book your trip at https://freshroots.ca/learn-on-the-farm/. 

This field trip is offered in spring (April, May, June) and fall (September and October) at our schoolyard farm in Coquitlam.

Max number of students: 30

Full Description

This field trip is offered in spring (April, May, June) and fall (September and October) at our schoolyard farms in Vancouver.

Situated at Vancouver Technical and David Thompson secondary schools, our schoolyard farms are a short walk from many secondary schools and community centers. All field trips include farm work experience and a chance to harvest and taste vegetables, when seasonally available. Email us about different field trip time and duration opinions. We require 1 teacher/chaperone for every 8 grade K-3 students and for every 10 grade 4-12 students.

Max number of students: 30

Learn more and book your trip at https://freshroots.ca/learn-on-the-farm/.

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The Eco 360 program offers a flexible learning experience, featuring a variety of hands-on activities ranging from 1-3 hours. This program provides opportunities to expand learning through topics including types of plastics, waste in the environment, understanding the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals in relation to a circular economy and so much more! Educators and learners can select activities that align with their needs, making it a very adaptable program.

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The Re-Energy program engages learners in grades 3-12 on the importance of renewable energy and explores the co-benefits and trade-offs of comparable energy systems. In this STEAM program, learners become renewable energy engineers by taking their learnings to the next level. Learners will use detailed construction plans to build working models of energy storage systems, solar ovens, solar cars, wind turbines, hydroelectric generators, and biogas generators and submit their project for a chance to win the Re-Energy Challenge. Learners are provided with relevant backgrounders to do an in-depth exploration of renewable energy technology. Further explore how students at a Calgary high school converted a 1975 Volkswagen Beetle, and how your students can build electric vehicle prototypes through GreenLearning’s Electrifying the Future program.

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Farm to School BC brings healthy, local, and sustainable food into schools across British Columbia and provides students with hands-on learning opportunities that develop food literacy, all while strengthening the local food system and enhancing school and community connectedness. The F2SBC team includes Regional Coordinators to provide localized support across all 60 school districts in BC, including independent and First Nations schools, divided into 5 geographic areas. Specific program activities include:

•Annual Farm to School BC grants program that opens each October

•Webinars covering a variety of food literacy topics throughout the school year

•Educator resources, lesson plans, toolkits, and activity ideas for in and outside the classroom in any season

•School Garden Mentorship resource library with recorded webinars and resource lists taking you through building or enhancing a school garden program month-by-month

•Pro-D and Regional Gathering events and opportunities

•Connections to local food producers, organizations, districts, and businesses to assist with individual educator and school inquiries

Farm to School BC is a program of the Public Health Association of BC and is supported by the Province of British Columbia.

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With these self-guided resources, teachers will have the tools to teach students about the harmful impact of plastic pollution on marine ecosystems, and what actions we can take in their own lives and communities to reduce ocean pollution. Through innovative activities and discussion, students will reflect on the use of plastic pollution in their own lives and will be encouraged to take actionable steps to protect oceans.

Ocean Trash Talk is best suited for Grades K-12, with lessons adapted to different age groups, and connects to Core and Curricular competencies in science, social studies and physical and health education. These resources are available for download nation- wide and can be used in schools, youth/ community groups, or other educational settings.