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 citizens’ 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 & Board of Directors
Awards
In 2018, CBEEN’s Executive Director, Duncan Whittick, won the Canadian Environmental Education ‘Outstanding Individual in an Organization’ award. 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 “outstanding contributions to support and enhance public school education in the Province of British Columbia”.
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 ‘Outstanding Environmental Education Membership Organization’ 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.
⛱️ A perfect summer 'beach read'! outdoorlearningstore.com/product/a-walking-curriculum-for-the-early-years/ ... See MoreSee Less
1 CommentsComment on Facebook
🧡 Educators - we invite you to join us for this new September series. These 3 x 1 hour virtual sessions will offer you a diversity of perspectives on your role as an educator as we move on the path towards truth and reconciliation.
All registrants will receive:
✅ 3 x Virtual 60 min Learning Sessions
✅ Access to the Recordings
✅ A Certificate of Completion
✅ Support & Resources
Learn more & register: outdoorlearning.com/event/truth-reconciliation-2026/
🥰 Each session is cultivated and led by an Indigenous Elder, educator, creator or researcher and two sessions are accompanied by a non-Indigenous educator working in unity and collaboration.
🌳 As each of us continue on our learning journey of what truth and reconciliation means to us individually and how we might take action personally and collectively, these three sessions offer diverse perspectives on how you can embed this into your teaching, life or work.
Taught by deeply knowledgeable people in this space you can find new ways of thinking, gain ideas and energy for this important community work in the lead up to Orange Shirt Day and the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation on Sept 30. 🧡 ... See MoreSee Less
0 CommentsComment on Facebook
A TED-style talk from Joe Pierre! 🥳Over the next few weeks, we're sharing one of the inspiring TED-style talks from the 2026 Outdoor Learning Leadership Conference every Tuesday, beginning with Joe Pierre.
Joe Pierre is a citizen of the Ktunaxa Nation and was raised in the Community of ʔaqʾam. A storyteller, educator, and former Chief Councillor of ʔaqʾam, Joe has dedicated his career to education, leadership, and sharing Indigenous knowledge. He currently works with School District 5 Southeast Kootenay and serves on the Board of Directors for the First Nations Education Steering Committee.
📺 Watch now: www.youtube.com/watch?v=dXMqD8_ths0 ... See MoreSee Less
0 CommentsComment on Facebook
🍀 4 FREE Fall Virtual Workshops are now open for registration! outdoorlearning.com/events/category/workshops/
Each free registration comes with:
☀ 1 hour of Learning
☀ Access to the Recording
☀ A Certificate of Attendance
☀ Entry for some great prizes!
Offered in partnership with Take Me Outside alongside a number of our Outdoor Learning Partners & Advisors! ... See MoreSee Less
0 CommentsComment on Facebook
💚 Ian grew up to be our Project Coordinator! Amongst other hats, he hosts our Earthy Chats Podcast - outdoorlearning.com/podcast/ - and stewards our Green Teacher Resources: outdoorlearning.com/green-teacher/
☀ As the former General Editor for Green Teacher (which we now manage) Ian has grown up to pursue a diversity of roles. A lifelong naturalist with a deep passion for wild spaces, Ian enjoyed 13 seasons working with provincial parks. Ian’s primary areas of focus in environmental education are biodiversity, climate change, and pollinators. He completed his BAH at Queen's University and then his BEd at the University of Toronto before becoming a certified teacher.
➡️ Learn more about Ian, and the rest of our Awesome Team: outdoorlearning.com/about/our-awesome-team/ ... See MoreSee Less
0 CommentsComment on Facebook
🦉 Educators - this 4 hour course will help you incorporate student journaling into your teaching practice across the seasons! 🍂 🌳 ☀ ❄ outdoorlearning.com/event/nature-journaling-2026/ ... See MoreSee Less
0 CommentsComment on Facebook
💲 Sign-up for our newsletter and be entered to win 10 x $50 prizes EVERY MONTH! outdoorlearning.com/seasonal-updates/ ... See MoreSee Less
0 CommentsComment on Facebook
🧡 🧡 We are committed to walking together in a good way, and we invite you to do the same. Join us for the upcoming Walking Together: Two-Eyed Seeing for Educators Online Course: outdoorlearning.com/event/walking-together-fall-2026/ ... See MoreSee Less
1 CommentsComment on Facebook
We've said it before, and we'll say it again...we ❤️ our authors, and their books we get to publish! These are by Lauren MacLean: outdoorlearning.com/lauren-maclean/ ... See MoreSee Less
2 CommentsComment on Facebook