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
LunchLAB
Growing ChefsBasic Details
LunchLAB - Learning, Accessing and Bridging to Community - is a barrier-free, educational, hands-on program, where kids’ connection to food takes root. At LunchLAB schools' kids prepare, cook and serve food for themselves and their peers.
LunchLAB - Learning, Accessing and Bridging to Community - is a barrier-free, educational, hands-on program, where kids’ connection to food takes root. At LunchLAB schools' kids prepare, cook and serve food for themselves and their peers.
Paint a Watershed (PAW!)
Elbow River Watershed PartnershipBasic Details
When it's cold outside and the water is frozen, the ERWP will join you in your classroom to explore how bodies of water are an expression of the landscape with the EnviroScape Watershed Model.
Following a curriculum-focused discussion, students will create their own simulations, with art supplies!
Discover how water, the greatest solvent, reaches all areas of a landscape and drains to the lowest point, while carrying materials like sediment, nutrients, and contaminants..
When it's cold outside and the water is frozen, the ERWP will join you in your classroom to explore how bodies of water are an expression of the landscape with the EnviroScape Watershed Model.
Following a curriculum-focused discussion, students will create their own simulations, with art supplies!
Discover how water, the greatest solvent, reaches all areas of a landscape and drains to the lowest point, while carrying materials like sediment, nutrients, and contaminants..
Group Tours and Team Building Experiences
UBC Botanical GardenBasic Details
Our educational tours and field trips are aligned with B.C.’s current curriculum learning standards. Designed for elementary and secondary schools, these experiences highlight science, sustainability, climate action, and place-based learning.
Our educational tours and field trips are aligned with B.C.’s current curriculum learning standards. Designed for elementary and secondary schools, these experiences highlight science, sustainability, climate action, and place-based learning.
Wilder Institute Calgary Zoo School Programs
Wilder Institute/Calgary ZooBasic Details
Make the zoo your classroom. We’re giving kids unforgettable learning experiences that inspire a lifelong love of wildlife and wild places.
Make the zoo your classroom. We’re giving kids unforgettable learning experiences that inspire a lifelong love of wildlife and wild places.
Clean Water Champions
Sea SmartBasic Details
An inquiry-based program where students will learn how their habits impact waterways and will feel empowered to take action against water pollution.
An inquiry-based program where students will learn how their habits impact waterways and will feel empowered to take action against water pollution.
The Bodo Archaeological Site & Centre
The Bodo Archaeological SocietyBasic Details
The Bodo Archaeological Site & Centre offers experiential educational programs for students of all ages, both at our centre and site, and in the classroom. We have had thousands of students visit Bodo to take part in our interactive, hands-on activities and learning experience.
The Bodo Archaeological Site & Centre offers experiential educational programs for students of all ages, both at our centre and site, and in the classroom. We have had thousands of students visit Bodo to take part in our interactive, hands-on activities and learning experience.
It’s a Bug’s Life
Langley Environmental Partners SocietyBasic Details
Discover the world of arthropods and the important role these crawly creatures play in our world.
Discover the world of arthropods and the important role these crawly creatures play in our world.
The Trading Trail
Fraser River Discovery CentreBasic Details
Explore how people have used and shared the resources of the Fraser River, with a focus on when First Nations and Fur traders first shared the river.
Explore how people have used and shared the resources of the Fraser River, with a focus on when First Nations and Fur traders first shared the river.
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.
Waste in our World - in school program
Green CalgaryBasic Details
Waste in Our World offers children the chance to work cooperatively build a model landfill and use it to look at ways to divert waste and make our landfills safer for the environment. This is an inquiry-based opportunity that fully engages participants in hands-on learning and incorporates several cross-curricular competencies.
Waste in Our World offers children the chance to work cooperatively build a model landfill and use it to look at ways to divert waste and make our landfills safer for the environment. This is an inquiry-based opportunity that fully engages participants in hands-on learning and incorporates several cross-curricular competencies.
Beautiful Bats
Stanley Park EcologyBasic Details
Bats really are beautiful; learn why in this interactive forest adventure.
Bats really are beautiful; learn why in this interactive forest adventure.
BC AdventureSmart
BC AdventureSmartBasic Details
BC AdventureSmart enhances awareness among enthusiasts to reduce the impact on search and rescue while contributing to the safety culture in British Columbia. Do you want to BE AdventureSmart? Start with us at BC AdventureSmart!
BC AdventureSmart enhances awareness among enthusiasts to reduce the impact on search and rescue while contributing to the safety culture in British Columbia. Do you want to BE AdventureSmart? Start with us at BC AdventureSmart!
Living Dinosaurs
Fraser River Discovery CentreBasic Details
Learn about the sturgeon lifecycle, survival needs, and what we can do to protect this remarkable species.
Learn about the sturgeon lifecycle, survival needs, and what we can do to protect this remarkable species.
Outdoor Environmental Education Lesson Plans
The Biosphere Institute of the Bow ValleyBasic Details
Are you looking to connect your classroom to the environment? Ever wondered how learning can be applied to the community? The lesson plans from Future Leaders tie the Alberta K-12 curriculum to environmental topics such as wildlife, climate change and ecology that are relevant across Turtle Island. We encourage you to recreate these lessons!
Are you looking to connect your classroom to the environment? Ever wondered how learning can be applied to the community? The lesson plans from Future Leaders tie the Alberta K-12 curriculum to environmental topics such as wildlife, climate change and ecology that are relevant across Turtle Island. We encourage you to recreate these lessons!
Algonquin College's Play, Learn and Teach Outdoors in the Early Years (PLaTO) program
Outdoor play CanadaBasic Details
The Play, Learn, and Teaching Outdoors in the Early Years college certification immerses early learning professionals in a specialized educational journey constructed around the national framework developed by the Canadian Centre for Outdoor Play.
The Play, Learn, and Teaching Outdoors in the Early Years college certification immerses early learning professionals in a specialized educational journey constructed around the national framework developed by the Canadian Centre for Outdoor Play.
Youth Conservation Collective (YCC)
CPAWS Southern AlbertaBasic Details
The Youth Conservation Collective (YCC) is an exciting three-month program that helps youth build environmental knowledge and leadership skills —amplifying the diverse voices and perspectives that are too often overlooked in environmental conversations.
The Youth Conservation Collective (YCC) is an exciting three-month program that helps youth build environmental knowledge and leadership skills —amplifying the diverse voices and perspectives that are too often overlooked in environmental conversations.
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.
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.
SPEC School Gardens Program
SPECBasic Details
Providing equitable environmental literacy for all ages and abilities in nature and or a school garden. These living classrooms reconnect us with the natural world through curiosity, exploration and observation while building valuable skills.
Providing equitable environmental literacy for all ages and abilities in nature and or a school garden. These living classrooms reconnect us with the natural world through curiosity, exploration and observation while building valuable skills.
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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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