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.
Just arrived! π¦ Dozens of new copies of this beautiful resource book by Natural Curiosity: outdoorlearning.com/product/natural-curiosity/ ... See MoreSee Less
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New 'Let's Learn Michif Flashcards' to accompany our free Southern Michif Course offered in partnership with MNBC! outdoorlearning.com/metis/ ... See MoreSee Less
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This Thursday the Invermere Public Library will be hosting a FREE live screening of this presentation by Jesse Wente - author of 'Unreconciled'. It will be followed by an opportunity to debrief and discuss what was shared. Everyone is invited! π ... See MoreSee Less
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π£ Just announced! This NEW release by Mariana Brussoni and Megan Zeni is available for pre-order! outdoorlearning.com/product/embracing-risky-play-at-school/
'Embracing Risky Play at School' introduces readers to outdoor play and learning (OPAL) in the kindergarten to middle school years, explains the difference between risks and hazards, presents the concept of βYesβ spaces, and describes how and why risky play supports academic development and student well-being.
Written by two experts in the field with decades of experience, Drs. Megan Zeni and Mariana Brussoni share research evidence alongside accessible strategies for overcoming common barriers for implementing risky play at school.
Learn more & pre-order your copy! outdoorlearning.com/product/embracing-risky-play-at-school/
#outdoorlearning #riskyplay
Environmental Educators Provincial Specialist Association (EEPSA)
Classrooms 2 Communities Education Network ... See MoreSee Less
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Sign-up for the newsletter of our social enterprise, and be entered to win 1 of 10 x $50 prizes each and every month!! π ... See MoreSee Less
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Subscribe, and be entered to win one of 10 x $50 coupons each month! Email(Required) Name(Required) First Last Address(Required)CountryState / Province βI find the regular emails keep me motivated t...0 CommentsComment on Facebook
Due to demand, we're keeping registration OPEN until November 30. 𧑠outdoorlearning.com/4-seasons/ ... See MoreSee Less
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We hope you can join us on Wednesday, December 3 with Waubgeshig Rice and Monique Gray Smith! outdoorlearning.com/event/the-medicine-of-stories-2025-26/
Waubgeshig is an author and journalist from Wasauksing First Nation. Heβs written four books, most notably the bestselling novels Moon of the Crusted Snow and Moon of the Turning Leaves. He graduated from the journalism program at Toronto Metropolitan University in 2002 and spent most of his journalism career with the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation as a video journalist and radio host.
In addition to his writing endeavours, Waubgeshig is an eclectic public speaker, delivering keynote addresses and workshops, engaging in interviews, and contributing to various panels at literary festivals and conferences. He speaks on creative writing and oral storytelling, contemporary Anishinaabe culture and matters, Indigenous representation in arts and media, and Waubgeshig lives in Sudbury, Ontario with his wife and three sons. ... See MoreSee Less
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π Last chance to sign-up! outdoorlearning.com/events/category/online-courses/
β Starts Nov 3: Social Emotional Learning Strategies with Lauren MacLean (Teach Outdoors) & Jade Berrill (Outdoor Learning School)
β Starts Nov 5: The Medicine of Stories with Monique Gray Smith & Cherie Dimaline (The Marrow Thieves)
β Starts Nov 5: Supporting Indigenous Childrenβs Success through Nature-based Learning with Jenna Jasek (Outdoor Learning School)
Learn more & sign-up: outdoorlearning.com/events/category/online-courses/ ... See MoreSee Less
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β This month we're shining some light on Dr. Gillian Judson! outdoorlearning.com/resources-by-gillian-judson/
An Assistant Professor in the Faculty of Education at Simon Fraser University, Gillian teaches in Educational Leadership and Curriculum and Instruction programs. Her research interests include the role of imagination in leadership and imaginationβs role in learning.
Her books include:
π³ A Walking Curriculum
π³ A Walking Curriculum for the Early Years
π³ Engaging Imagination in Ecological Education
Learn more & order these here: outdoorlearning.com/resources-by-gillian-judson/ ... See MoreSee Less
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