A free resource for finding school programs and resources in Alberta and BC
Teachers, we know that finding environmental education programs and resources that work for your classroom’s needs can be difficult. This database helps you find relevant, fun offerings that can bring these important topics to life.
Filter and browse our listings to find the perfect activity to engage and energize your students on environmental learning.
You can support this initiative by donating to Elements Society
Room to Play Consulting
Room to PlayBasic Details
Dr. Megan Zeni offers engaging and practical professional learning for elementary school teachers and school staff who locate provincial curriculum in school gardens and outdoor classrooms. Select a curricular area to focus on, or work with Megan to design a customized professional learning event that pedagogically situates outdoor play and learning as an effective opportunity for developing environmental ethics of care with young children.
Dr. Megan Zeni offers engaging and practical professional learning for elementary school teachers and school staff who locate provincial curriculum in school gardens and outdoor classrooms. Select a curricular area to focus on, or work with Megan to design a customized professional learning event that pedagogically situates outdoor play and learning as an effective opportunity for developing environmental ethics of care with young children.
Unexpected Eats
Fresh RootsBasic Details
“You can eat that???” Yes, you can! Explore often overlooked foods on our farms and in our indigenous plant garden as you learn about ethical foraging and some of the traditional food and medicine uses of common plants.
“You can eat that???” Yes, you can! Explore often overlooked foods on our farms and in our indigenous plant garden as you learn about ethical foraging and some of the traditional food and medicine uses of common plants.
Welcome to Fresh Roots
Fresh RootsBasic Details
Get a taste of what Fresh Roots is all about! Activities will vary, but you can expect to learn about how Fresh Roots came to be, learn about food and food systems through play, participate in farm work, and try some farm-grown food!
Get a taste of what Fresh Roots is all about! Activities will vary, but you can expect to learn about how Fresh Roots came to be, learn about food and food systems through play, participate in farm work, and try some farm-grown food!
Water, Water Everywhere
Langley Environmental Partners SocietyBasic Details
Students become Water Scientists as they discover where their drinking water comes from!
Students become Water Scientists as they discover where their drinking water comes from!
Nature Detectives
Stanley Park EcologyBasic Details
Engage your senses in the forest of Stanley Park, where your students can become Nature Detectives.
Engage your senses in the forest of Stanley Park, where your students can become Nature Detectives.
Nature Stewards Programs
Environmental Youth AllianceBasic Details
These free multi-week programs will support youth to develop skills to care for nature in your community, including growing native plants, restoring wildlife habitat, and working with plant medicines. These are open registration programs for students to sign up independently, outside of school hours.
These free multi-week programs will support youth to develop skills to care for nature in your community, including growing native plants, restoring wildlife habitat, and working with plant medicines. These are open registration programs for students to sign up independently, outside of school hours.
PLT Canada Educator Training Workshop
Project Learning Tree CanadaBasic Details
Join a workshop to explore how PLT Canada materials can enhance environmental education. Learn to engage students in hands-on, place-based learning, fostering environmental stewardship and critical thinking through activities focused on sustainability and conservation.
Join a workshop to explore how PLT Canada materials can enhance environmental education. Learn to engage students in hands-on, place-based learning, fostering environmental stewardship and critical thinking through activities focused on sustainability and conservation.
Outdoor Environmental Education Programs
Weaselhead/Glenmore Park Preservation SocietyBasic Details
Explore and learn about one of Calgary's most biodiverse spots with seasoned Naturalists!
Explore and learn about one of Calgary's most biodiverse spots with seasoned Naturalists!
Invasive Plant Program
Weaselhead/Glenmore Park Preservation SocietyBasic Details
An opportunity for students to get hands on experience removing invasive plants in the Weaselhead while making curricular connections for ecosystems and interactions and biodiversity.
An opportunity for students to get hands on experience removing invasive plants in the Weaselhead while making curricular connections for ecosystems and interactions and biodiversity.
Outdoor Conservation Experiences
CPAWS Southern AlbertaBasic Details
Our interactive outdoor experiences include fun, educational hiking, science-based activities, gamified learning, and reconciliation teachings — all of which foster a strong understanding of Alberta's environment and build a lifelong connection to nature.
Our interactive outdoor experiences include fun, educational hiking, science-based activities, gamified learning, and reconciliation teachings — all of which foster a strong understanding of Alberta's environment and build a lifelong connection to nature.
UBC Farm Field Trips
UBC FarmBasic Details
UBC Farm field trips offer hands-on, sensory-rich experiences on a certified organic farm. Students explore food production, ecosystems, and wilderness skills in themed sessions - Food & Farming, Nature & Ecosystems, or Exploration & Skills - tailored to your age group.
UBC Farm field trips offer hands-on, sensory-rich experiences on a certified organic farm. Students explore food production, ecosystems, and wilderness skills in themed sessions - Food & Farming, Nature & Ecosystems, or Exploration & Skills - tailored to your age group.
Student Team Build
Fresh RootsBasic Details
Team Builds are a chance for students (and teachers and chaperones!) to get their hands really dirty helping our farmers grow Good Food for All. This program includes an introduction to Fresh Roots and the many things we do, and plenty of time to work on projects around the farm, from weeding to building. Exact projects will vary depending on the group and the needs of the site.
Team Builds are a chance for students (and teachers and chaperones!) to get their hands really dirty helping our farmers grow Good Food for All. This program includes an introduction to Fresh Roots and the many things we do, and plenty of time to work on projects around the farm, from weeding to building. Exact projects will vary depending on the group and the needs of the site.
Our Bones are Made of Salmon
Fraser River Discovery CentreBasic Details
Explore the connection between Indigenous people and salmon on the Fraser River.
Explore the connection between Indigenous people and salmon on the Fraser River.
Farming Then and Now
Fresh RootsBasic Details
From the invention of crop rotation to the industrial revolution to the creation of Genetically Modified Organisms, agricultural technology is always changing. See what technologies, modern and ancient, we use on our farms to grow delicious food, and even give some of them a try!
From the invention of crop rotation to the industrial revolution to the creation of Genetically Modified Organisms, agricultural technology is always changing. See what technologies, modern and ancient, we use on our farms to grow delicious food, and even give some of them a try!
RiverWatch School Science Float
RiverWatch Institute of AlbertaBasic Details
RIVERWATCH SCHOOL SCIENCE FLOATS - FLOATING LABS – YOUR CLASSROOM ON THE RIVER!
RIVERWATCH SCHOOL SCIENCE FLOATS - FLOATING LABS – YOUR CLASSROOM ON THE RIVER!
From Pollution to Solution
Fraser River Discovery CentreBasic Details
Examine different types of pollutants and where they come from, and evaluate how individual actions contribute to the health of the river.
Examine different types of pollutants and where they come from, and evaluate how individual actions contribute to the health of the river.
Freshwater Field Study Program
Elbow River Watershed PartnershipBasic Details
Field trip along the Elbow River in the spring and along the Bow or Elbow River in the fall. Partnership Program with Alberta Parks. This program aligns with the science curriculum for Grade 8 – Freshwater Systems and Grade 9 – Biological Diversity & Environmental Chemistry.
Field trip along the Elbow River in the spring and along the Bow or Elbow River in the fall. Partnership Program with Alberta Parks. This program aligns with the science curriculum for Grade 8 – Freshwater Systems and Grade 9 – Biological Diversity & Environmental Chemistry.
EcoCooks Club
Unbounded Canada FoundationBasic Details
EcoCooks is a science-based environmental cooking program that creates a strong foundation for youth to develop lifelong healthy and planet-positive eating habits.
EcoCooks is a science-based environmental cooking program that creates a strong foundation for youth to develop lifelong healthy and planet-positive eating habits.
Taking the Pulse of the Fraser
Fraser River Discovery CentreBasic Details
Follow each step of the scientific method to conduct a water quality investigation.
Follow each step of the scientific method to conduct a water quality investigation.
Seedlings Forest School
Seedlings Forest SchoolBasic Details
We believe kids belong in nature, and we’ve developed various programs to get them there.
We believe kids belong in nature, and we’ve developed various programs to get them there.
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FAQs
For Teachers
I can’t find listings that work for me. What can I do?
Try removing any filtering criteria to see more results. If you can’t find listings in your area, try looking in the “Available Nationwide” category, or use the Delivery Format filter to select listings marked as “Online” or “Resource”. If you would like to suggest a listing for inclusion, contact us at fern@elements-society.org
How does the favourites list work?
Your list is stored temporarily on the device used to visit the site, and can expire between visits. Make sure to record the link to your list, or email the list to yourself. The link will always work if you return to it. When the contents of your list is edited (e.g. adding or removing items), the link will also change. Make sure to copy the new link after making any changes to your list.
How do teacher recommendations work?
The organization who produces the activity solicits recommendations from teachers who have completed their activities. Recommendations include a teacher’s school district in order to provide local context, but are kept anonymous for privacy reasons.
How do I leave recommendations for listings?
After you complete a program, the listing organization will send you a special website link that you can use to leave a recommendation. If you would like to leave a recommendation but haven’t received a link, contact the organization directly.
When browsing by location, how do I know which school district I am located in?
If you aren’t sure what public school district you are located in, see the Alberta Education Maps or the BC School District Map.
How do I suggest a listing for inclusion or provide any other feedback?
To suggest a listing, email us and we can try to connect with the organization. Note that organizations are responsible for publishing their own listings.
If you have any other feedback, email us. Although we strive to keep this resource up to date, Elements Society is not responsible for the accuracy of information provided by organizations.
I need a full run through of FERN, where can I find this?
Here is a full FERN run through for teachers/educators. Learn how to access classroom-ready environmental education resources to bring vital topics to life.
For Listing Organizations
How do I submit my organization’s programs or resources for inclusion?
If you create environmental education programs or resources, sign up for an account. Once you are signed in, you can create a new listing. All new and updated listings are subject to review before appearing on the website.
How do I submit an update to my listings?
Sign in to your account, and you will see all of your listings and have the option to submit an update to (or delete) any listing. Updates are subject to review before appearing on the website.
I no longer have access to the email used for my account. What can I do?
Email us and we can help restore access to your listings.
How do I get teacher recommendations for my listings?
When you create a new listing, you will receive a unique website link that allows teachers to leave a recommendation. After teachers complete a program, it’s your responsibility to solicit recommendations by sending the link. Recommendations include a teacher’s school district in order to provide local context, but are kept anonymous for privacy reasons.
How do I update the payment information for my listing?
If your payment method on file is expired or was declined, email us and we can help you update your payment info.
I need a full run through of FERN and making a listing, where can I find this?
Here is a full FERN run through for organisations. Discover how to share your programs and resources on FERN and connect meaningfully with classrooms across Alberta and BC.
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