Environmental and Outdoor Education

The River Roots Program is for adults 18+ looking for an adventure or certification and skills to work in the outdoor recreation field. At the end of six short weeks, grads are employable in the outdoor adventure tourism industry, having completed 5+ certifications, a 21-day James Bay Expedition and many workshops focusing on both hard and soft skills.  Not to mention all of the networking opportunities provided.

The John Muir Laws website is a resource of tools about nature journaling which includes instructional videos, lessons, and workshops to help you and your students start your nature journaling journey! 

This innovative and vibrant resource honours the centuries-old healing traditions of Métis women. Christi Belcourt fuses her artwork with Indigenous Traditional Knowledge and western science. The book includes contributions from Métis Elders Rose Richardson and Olive Whitford, as well as key Michif phrases and terminology. 

Many classrooms and schools are using the free ArcGIS online for schools in their teaching and learning.

  • ArcGIS StoryMaps combine interactive maps, text, video, images and more to tell a story.
  • ArcGIS Survey123 turns surveys into maps that can be analyzed and shared with others.
  • ArcGIS Dashboards allow you to make sense of the world through innovative and easy-to-create visualizations of data. 

Visit the website for blog posts by local teachers to get inspired! 

Clothing4Climate is a project-based learning unit that empowers students to learn about where their clothing comes from and make a difference through their choices.

The Canadian Network for Ocean Education provides toolkits for all Grade levels in a variety of subject areas featuring hands on activities and videos. Another resource is Ocean Education Wednesday for Junior High/High School, which provides ready-made slide decks every week as a PDF download, SMARTnotebook file, or Powerpoint presentation.

Outward Bound Canada offers expeditions for youth & adults, as well as school & group programs. 

Alberta's Native Trout is an interactive website to learn about Alberta's Native Trout, the different species, healthy trout habitat, risks to native trout, and how we can support native trout!

The Calgary Urban Forestry Map is an interactive tool that allows users to zoom in and find out what tree species are in our city. Students can also use the search tool to search by address or place. 

AdventureSmart is a great resource to help teach students about outdoor trip preparation. The website includes guides, checklists, and a fun online game! You can also request an outdoor educator to speak to your group virtually in either French or English!