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
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.
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.
Worm Composting in Schools
City Farmer SocietyBasic Details
Wormshops. Learning to compost in a small space with red wriggler worms.
Wormshops. Learning to compost in a small space with red wriggler worms.
Columbia Basin Environmental Educators Network
Columbia Basin Environmental Education NetworkBasic Details
Our organization supports a community of engaged and effective environmental educators by connecting them to resources, information, professional development, and networking opportunities.
Our organization supports a community of engaged and effective environmental educators by connecting them to resources, information, professional development, and networking opportunities.
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.
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.
Conservation Classroom Experiences
CPAWS Southern AlbertaBasic Details
Our multi-visit, interactive classroom experiences include 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 multi-visit, interactive classroom experiences include 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.
Goldstream Spring School Programs
BC Parks FoundationBasic Details
With park programming designed to inspire, engage and educate, the Goldstream Nature House is where the next generation of environmental stewards are fostered.
With park programming designed to inspire, engage and educate, the Goldstream Nature House is where the next generation of environmental stewards are fostered.
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 Warriors
Langley Environmental Partners SocietyBasic Details
Students learn skills to reduce garbage and become Waste Warriors.
Students learn skills to reduce garbage and become Waste Warriors.
The Classroom Gardener
Room to PlayBasic Details
The Classroom Gardener supports schools no matter where they are in their school garden process. Dreaming of a school garden? We support with practical expertise that will ensure your garden is not neglected after one season. Wanting to refresh a well loved school garden or pivot to a water-wise garden? We'll help you ensure your school garden becomes a thriving and sustainable shared space of cross-curricular learning.
The Classroom Gardener supports schools no matter where they are in their school garden process. Dreaming of a school garden? We support with practical expertise that will ensure your garden is not neglected after one season. Wanting to refresh a well loved school garden or pivot to a water-wise garden? We'll help you ensure your school garden becomes a thriving and sustainable shared space of cross-curricular learning.
Farm Observers
Fresh RootsBasic Details
Farm Observers helps your students develop long-lasting connections with the land and its cycles, and to slow down and really observe and enjoy the world around them. Classes will practice a variety of naturalist and observation skills on their farm visit throughout the school year. The program is perfect for classes within walking distance of our farms at Vancouver Technical and David Thompson Secondary Schools.
Farm Observers helps your students develop long-lasting connections with the land and its cycles, and to slow down and really observe and enjoy the world around them. Classes will practice a variety of naturalist and observation skills on their farm visit throughout the school year. The program is perfect for classes within walking distance of our farms at Vancouver Technical and David Thompson Secondary Schools.
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.
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.
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.
Hazards in My Home
Langley Environmental Partners SocietyBasic Details
Students become Hazard Detectives and identify which household hazardous products can be harmful by matching symbols with meanings.
Students become Hazard Detectives and identify which household hazardous products can be harmful by matching symbols with meanings.
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.
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!
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.
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.
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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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