Being able to access top-tier environmental education platforms is paramount to fostering a greener world. Although environment and climate change education needs to become a key component of the school curriculum across Canada and needs much improvement in provinces where it does exist, there are organizations that offer resources and support for educators and students to help integrate the learning across various subjects. From interactive platforms providing insights into local ecosystems to comprehensive guides on climate change mitigation and more, these resources often allow the public, particularly young people, to explore their world and create solutions to deal with biodiversity loss, pollution and climate change.
There are a number of non-profit organizations with a mandate to provide solutions-focused, hands-on, project-based learning and/or outdoor learning materials that empower youth in K-12 institutions to reimagine and create a sustainable future. Canada is also home to a vibrant community of grassroots organizations and initiatives such as nature clubs and conservation groups that are dedicated to environmental education, both within a formal and informal context. The resources, websites, and support are invaluable tools for encouraging learners to understand, appreciate and actively participate in safeguarding the planet for future generations.
As Canada continues to confront complex climate changes, the top environmental education resources and websites along with the organizations that offer them, play a vital role in fostering a shared sense of responsibility amongst younger Canadians. Youth are often said to be future leaders but they can also be leaders of today and all of this happens through the power of knowledge and education. In no particular order, here is an outline of organizations (including ours) that are making a difference for their world-class learning opportunities for children and youth.
GreenLearning creates free online education programs about energy, climate change and green economy that engage and empower students to create positive change for our evolving world. They combine input from national surveys and consultations with teachers and education professionals to inform the learning materials. All lessons and resources are piloted with teachers and school boards and revised based on their feedback before they are made available and accessible online.
Ocean Wise is a global conservation organization on a mission to build communities that take meaningful action to protect and restore our ocean. Their education department connects youth globally through digital, in-person and mobile programs that encourage ocean literacy and foster a sense of stewardship in children right from their younger years. They also work with audiences of all backgrounds and sizes, from schools to youth-serving agencies, and from community groups to individuals and families.
As a charitable social enterprise, Outdoor Learning Store offers outdoor learning equipment, resources, tools and training with 100% of proceeds going back to outdoor learning non-profit initiatives. Every month, they also offer free virtual workshops with guest speakers from various environmental organizations, and resources for educators.
Ocean School helps learners explore and deepen their engagement with ocean science through immersive media using VR, augmented reality, 360 cinema, and more. It is a bilingual learning experience with the unique use of storytelling, immersive technology and interactive media that offers an inquiry-based approach to foster critical thinking, innovation and awareness.
Take Me Outside is a non-profit, charitable organization committed to awareness and facilitating action on nature connection and outdoor learning in schools. They work towards encouraging children and youth to spend time outside in collaboration with organizations, school boards and individuals.They believe that spending time outside to play, learn and explore plays a key role in the daily development of each learner.
Learning for a Sustainable Future
Learning for a Sustainable Future is transforming Canada’s education system through innovative programs that empower youth and educators to create more sustainable communities. For over 30 years, they have been working towards integrating sustainability into the Canadian school curriculum and their work is executed in partnership with educators, youth, governments, businesses, and community members. They are also creators of Resources for Rethinking - a collaborative initiative made possible by the expertise and financial support of LSF and its partners.
EcoSchools Canada is a voluntary environmental certification program for K-12 schools in Canada. They also engaged with all levels of the school community – from students to teachers to parents by providing training, workshops and conferences in addition to a range of environmental education resources and campaigns.
Earth Rangers is an organization that cares about the environmental concerns of children. By transforming such concerns into opportunities for positive action, they are empowering children and youth to become Earth Rangers – animal saving heroes who are confident in their ability to make a difference for the planet’s future.
Inside education is on a mission to support teachers and inspire students to better understand the science, technology, and issues related to our environment and natural resources. Their programs consider multiple perspectives to encourage critical thinking and responsible stewardship. Most of all, they achieve all of this through five main program pillars, namely; classroom resources, both classroom and field programs, youth summits, professional development, and grants!
We strongly encourage educators to do their research and select the resources that align with their education values and learning objectives. Most organizations use a mix of different teaching and learning methods from digital tools, to outdoor activities and project-based education to Indigenous perspectives. It is important to discover what aspects of environmental education matters most to your learners and then use the findings along with this article as a guide to gather the tools that can help augment classroom instruction and student learning in a way that supports academic success,skills development and empowering them to make a difference in their communities.