Over $1 million for environmental education

Two programs, the Know Your Watershed program and the Columbia Basin Environmental Education Network will receive funding.

Grade eight students learn about the importance of water through the Know Your Watershed program. Columbia Basin Trust is committing additional funds to the program, as well as to the Columbia Basin Environmental Education Network. — Photo courtesy cbt.org

(Columbia Basin) – Columbia Basin children and communities will continue to receive opportunities to learn about, appreciate and care for the natural world around them, through Columbia Basin Trust’s $1-million commitment to two environmental education initiatives. These are the Know Your Watershed program and the Columbia Basin Environmental Education Network.

“These initiatives have proven successful, and we’re pleased we can commit additional funding to help them become more sustainable, plan into the future and grow,” said Tim Hicks, Columbia Basin Trust Manager, Water and Environment. “Through these initiatives Basin students will continue to have hands on opportunities to increase their understanding of the natural environment, which Basin residents have told us is a priority.”

The Know Your Watershed program will be receiving $540,500 over three years. Working with environmental educators in the Basin, the Trust developed this program in 2010 to help grade eight students understand where their water comes from, how it is used and where it goes after it is used. The program is delivered to schools by local educators around the Basin working with Wildsight. Learn more at wildsight.ca/program/know-your-watershed.

“Wildsight is thrilled to continue working with the Trust to deliver Know Your Watershed,” said Monica Nissen, Manager for Wildsight’s education programs. “We hear from teachers and students across the Columbia Basin how much they love the action-oriented, hands-on learning of the program. Because it incorporates knowledge from local community experts, not only does it make a big impact on students, but it also strengthens the community as a whole.”

The Columbia Basin Environmental Education Network (CBEEN) will be receiving $500,000 over three years. Created in partnership with the Trust in 2002, CBEEN supports environmental education in the Basin by offering professional development for educators and providing them access to training, resources, opportunities and tools. It also delivers the Wild Voices for Kids program, which has local experts deliver curriculum-linked programs to schools across the Basin. Learn more at cbeen.org.

“CBEEN is excited to continue to play a key role in encouraging environmental stewardship and sustainability in the Canadian Columbia Basin by supporting environmental education,” said Duncan Whittick, CBEEN Executive Director. “There are so many educators from across our region who provide excellent learning opportunities for both classrooms and communities, and we look forward to continuing to work hard to support their efforts.”

The Trust highlights environmental education and stewardship as one of the five goals in its Environment Strategic Plan 2014–2019. To learn more about the education and awareness projects and programs it supports, visit cbt.org/enviroeducation.

Columbia Basin Trust supports efforts to deliver social, economic and environmental benefits to the residents of the Columbia Basin. To learn more about the Trust’s programs and initiatives, visit cbt.org or call 1.800.505.8998.