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
Cool It! Climate Leadership Training program
BCSEABasic Details
An interactive workshop and a four-week climate challenge for grades 4-12. Students will explore climate science, justice, solutions, and actions to reduce emissions, fostering family involvement, community engagement, and systemic understanding.
An interactive workshop and a four-week climate challenge for grades 4-12. Students will explore climate science, justice, solutions, and actions to reduce emissions, fostering family involvement, community engagement, and systemic understanding.
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.
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.
Cheakamus Centre
Cheakamus CentreBasic Details
Outdoor, Environmental, and Indigenous Cultural Education
Outdoor, Environmental, and Indigenous Cultural Education
Evolution on the Farm
Fresh RootsBasic Details
How many plants are related to broccoli? Why can’t we grow coconuts in Vancouver? Explore these questions and more as we dive deep into the evolution of food crops through natural and human selection, and the effects of climate on our food.
How many plants are related to broccoli? Why can’t we grow coconuts in Vancouver? Explore these questions and more as we dive deep into the evolution of food crops through natural and human selection, and the effects of climate on our food.
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.
Project WET Canada
Project WET CanadaBasic Details
Project WET Canada equips educators with hands-on, curriculum-connected water education resources through dynamic in-person and virtual certification workshops.
Project WET Canada equips educators with hands-on, curriculum-connected water education resources through dynamic in-person and virtual certification workshops.
Shepard Landfill Tour with Composting Facility visit
The City of Calgary Waste & Recycling ServicesBasic Details
The City of Calgary offers school tours at the Composting Facility and Shepard Landfill, providing students the unique opportunity to observe Calgary’s waste management operations in action.
The City of Calgary offers school tours at the Composting Facility and Shepard Landfill, providing students the unique opportunity to observe Calgary’s waste management operations in action.
Aquatic Ecology Inquiry, Terrestrial Ecology Inquiry, Winter Ecology Inquiry
Biogeoscience Institute at the University of CalgaryBasic Details
Hands-on, inquiry-based, ecology focused programs for high school students in the Canadian Rockies.
Hands-on, inquiry-based, ecology focused programs for high school students in the Canadian Rockies.
Get Creative
Fresh RootsBasic Details
Art is all around us, including on the farm! Try your hand at making root veggie stamps, painting with leaves, making veggie collages, or other plant-based art projects. Exact projects will vary depending on plant availability.
Art is all around us, including on the farm! Try your hand at making root veggie stamps, painting with leaves, making veggie collages, or other plant-based art projects. Exact projects will vary depending on plant availability.
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.
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.
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!
21st Century Farming
Fresh RootsBasic Details
Climate change and biodiversity loss are major threats to our food system, and unjust labour practices in the food sector contribute to poverty and oppression in our communities, but there is a way forward! See how regenerative agriculture and projects like Fresh Roots can improve the food system by supporting both the ecosystem we are part of and the people who grow our food, and help build a truly sustainable food system!
When you book this program, please let us know in the Notes if you would prefer an ecosystems or human/food systems focus!
Climate change and biodiversity loss are major threats to our food system, and unjust labour practices in the food sector contribute to poverty and oppression in our communities, but there is a way forward! See how regenerative agriculture and projects like Fresh Roots can improve the food system by supporting both the ecosystem we are part of and the people who grow our food, and help build a truly sustainable food system!
When you book this program, please let us know in the Notes if you would prefer an ecosystems or human/food systems focus!
Custom Field Trip
Fresh RootsBasic Details
If you are interested in a field trip longer than two hours, or would like to work with our Experiential Learning team to craft a program to meet your learning objectives, fill in the registration form and we will get in touch to figure out how we can help make it happen! A uniquely designed program will be priced accordingly. Custom programs require at least four weeks' notice.
If you are interested in a field trip longer than two hours, or would like to work with our Experiential Learning team to craft a program to meet your learning objectives, fill in the registration form and we will get in touch to figure out how we can help make it happen! A uniquely designed program will be priced accordingly. Custom programs require at least four weeks' notice.
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.
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.
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.
All About Cycles
Fresh RootsBasic Details
Winter to spring to summer to fall, seed to fruit to seed, experience how the cycle of the seasons affects the life cycle of the plants we eat.
Winter to spring to summer to fall, seed to fruit to seed, experience how the cycle of the seasons affects the life cycle of the plants we eat.
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.
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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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