ABOUT US
CBEEN is the regional network for environmental education in the Columbia Basin.
MISSION
To encourage environmental stewardship and sustainability in the Canadian Columbia Basin by supporting environmental educators.
VISION
People in the Canadian Columbia Basin respect the natural environment and engage in sustainable activities.
GOALS
1. Maintain a vibrant and engaged network of educators in the Canadian Columbia Basin, and provide this network with excellent environmental education professional development resources and opportunities.
2. Facilitate collaboration amongst members, partner organizations, and Basin communities to effectively achieve our shared mandates and vision.
3. Undertake a process to better role model and support diversity, equity, and inclusion in the field of Environmental Education.
4. Expand network to increase engagement with and support for early years educators.
5. Maintain a sustainable organization which has effective and ethical governance in accordance with its non-profit and charitable status.
CBEEN is a Non-Profit Society and Registered Charity.
Over a decade ago, educators from across the Canadian Columbia Basin recognized that they shared geographic and cultural links and also a common interest in environmental education (EE).
The Columbia Basin Environmental Education Network (CBEEN) was born out of this shared sense of identity and from the common desire to support and promote EE on a regional scale. Over the past 10 years CBEEN has grown from a small group of passionate educators to a large and vibrant network of educators from across the Columbia Basin and beyond.
The Canadian Columbia Basin stretches from the Okanagan in the west to the Alberta border in the east and from Valemount in the north to the United States border in the south.
The communities within this region are linked through the water and their citizensβ past and future are intertwined historically, socially, economically, and environmentally. The region is also internationally recognized for its biodiversity values. Networks like CBEEN facilitate connections and information exchange among individuals who share common interests, inspiring innovation and efficiencies at all levels. This is especially important in the largely rural context of the Canadian Columbia Basin where communities are small, geographically dispersed and resources are limited.
Staff &Β Board of Directors
Awards
In 2018, CBEEN’s Executive Director, Duncan Whittick, won the Canadian Environmental Education ‘Outstanding Individual in an Organization’ award.Β This national award is presented to an individual associated with an organization who has made a significant contribution to environmental education in Canada.
In 2018, Cheryl Lenardon (CBEEN Director) received a Canadian Award of Excellence on behalf of the Kootenay-Boundary Environmental Education Committee (KBEE), representing school districts 5, 6, 8, 10, 20 and 51. This is an initiative of the Kootenay-Boundary Chapter of the BC School Superintendents Association.
In 2014, CBEEN was successful in nominating the Columbia Basin Trust for a National Award of Excellence, recognizing their outstanding capacity building efforts of environmental education across the Columbia Basin. CBEEN had the privilege of presenting this to CBT on behalf of the Canadian Network for Environmental Education and Communication.
In 2015, CBEEN was the sole recipient of the province-wide BC School Superintendent Association (BCSSA) Community Award of Recognition. This award recognized CBEEN’s βoutstanding contributions to support and enhance public school education in the Province of British Columbiaβ.
In 2015, CBEEN Director Monica Nissen was named ‘Outstanding Environmental Education Non-Profit Individual’ by the Canadian Network for Environmental Education and Communication (EECOM) at its national conference in Canmore.
In 2013, CBEEN was named βOutstanding Environmental Education Membership Organizationβ by the Canadian Network for Environmental Education and Communication (EECOM) at its national conference for its ongoing successful support of environmental education across the region.
WOW! π€© What incredible energy, ideas, and inspiration at the inaugural Outdoor Learning Leadership Conference! Our team was grateful to be part of this movement to supporting healthier & more sustainable systems, schools and communities. π ... See MoreSee Less
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This November, we are offering 5 courses & certifications! βοΈβοΈβοΈβοΈβοΈ
outdoorlearning.com/events/category/online-courses/
1) Starting Nov 3: Social Emotional Learning Strategies π₯°
2) Starting Nov 3: Early Years Outdoor Play and Learning π©βπ§βπ¦
3) Starting Nov 5: Supporting Indigenous Childrenβs Success β
4) Starting Nov 5: The Medicine of Stories 2025-26 π³
5) Starting Nov 13: 4 Seasons of Indigenous Learning π§‘
outdoorlearning.com/events/category/online-courses/ ... See MoreSee Less
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Final day of the inaugural Outdoor Learning Leadership Conference! π ... See MoreSee Less
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Weβre here and ready for you at the inaugural Outdoor Learning Leadership National Conference! π ... See MoreSee Less
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The inaugural #OutdoorLearning Leadership Conference has just kicked off! A number of the authors who we work with are in attendance, and several are offering book signings. Leona Prince is signing books right now. If you're at the event, here's the schedule of book signings (and we have all of their books available at our table while supplies last!). ... See MoreSee Less
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Our team is SO excited to be helping to host the inaugural 'Outdoor Learning Leadership Conference'! This conference will bring together over 300 school system leaders and administrators from across North America (including many from the Columbia Basin!) for 3 days of professional development, current research and growth around #outdoorlearning
Hosted by Take Me Outside and offered in partnership with EcoSchools Canada, Global, Environmental, and Outdoor Education Council, Learning for a Sustainable Future, Outdoor Council of Canada and PHE Canada EPS Canada. ... See MoreSee Less
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Walk with us? πΆββοΈπΆπΆββοΈ Starting today! ... See MoreSee Less
A Walking Curriculum for the Early Years - Outdoor Learning School & Store
outdoorlearning.com
These 4 x 1 hour sessions for adults will go deeper into the theoretical and practical dimensions of the outdoor and imagination-focused resource, A Walking0 CommentsComment on Facebook
βοΈπ₯ Science Teachers - join us for this FREE 1 hour virtual workshop! outdoorlearning.com/event/taking-science-outdoors/
Science comes alive when you learn it outside. Join 3 lifelong science educators to share about their experience in community science. You will learn how you and students can become scientists (and meet curriculum) by counting species of plants, animals or birds in your local area, testing water quality in community spaces or using free apps to contribute to the scientific knowledge base.
All registrants will be able to access the recording, in case you canβt join us live. And all attendees will be able to access a Certificate of Attendance and will be entered to win some great prizes! π
Offered in partnership with Take Me Outside. Learn more & sign-up... outdoorlearning.com/event/taking-science-outdoors/ ... See MoreSee Less
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Where are our Parks People?! π³π²πΎ Join us for a FREE virtual workshop on Outdoor Learning in Parks & Protected Places: outdoorlearning.com/event/parks-protected-places/
All registrants will receive:
π³ The recording (if you can't join live)
π² Links to additional resources
πΎ Entry for some great prizes!
Sign-up: outdoorlearning.com/event/parks-protected-places/
BC Parks Foundation
BC Parks
Parks Canada
Mount Revelstoke and Glacier national parks, Parks Canada
Kootenay National Park ... See MoreSee Less
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