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.
🌿 Registration is now open for Take Me Outside Day 2026!
Join educators, learners, schools, organizations, and communities around the world for Canada's national celebration of outdoor learning.
Created in collaboration with outdoor learning partners across the country, Take Me Outside Week features inspiring virtual speakers, virtual field trips, partner resources, and outdoor learning activities designed to help learners connect with nature, their communities, and one another.
Participation is free. Learn more, and sign-up! takemeoutside.ca/take-me-outside-day/
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☀ A very warm welcome to Robert Price, our new Financial Controller!
Rob is a member of the Ligʷiłdaxʷ Nation and brings more than 20 years of experience in financial management and leadership to his role as Financial Controller. Throughout his career, Rob has held senior finance positions with First Nations organizations, supporting financial reporting, budgeting and forecasting, audits, internal controls, and long-term organizational planning.
Rob is a Certified Aboriginal Financial Manager (CAFM) and Certified First Nations Tax Administrator (CFNTA), with additional education in accounting, management, business administration, and information management. He enjoys working collaboratively with teams and using his financial experience to strengthen organizations, improve systems, and support informed decision-making.
Born and raised on Vancouver Island, Rob values his connection to community and the land. Outside of work, he enjoys spending time with his wife and two boys and making the most of life on Vancouver Island.
➡️ Read more about Rob, and the rest of our awesome team: outdoorlearning.com/about/our-awesome-team/ ... See MoreSee Less
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Do you have a basic/beginner understanding of the Ktunaxa language? If so, we invite you to join us for a Conversational Course, starting in October! Learn more & sign-up: outdoorlearning.com/event/conversational-ktunaxa-fall-2026/ ... See MoreSee Less
Learn More
Ktunaxa-Resources – CBEEN Online
cbeen.ca
These are all available through CBEEN’s Outdoor Learning Store social enterprise, with 100% of proceeds going back to supporting local environmental and outdoor learning initiatives!1 CommentsComment on Facebook
✅ Sign-up for our FREE 1-hour virtual workshop on Well-being through Outdoor Learning: outdoorlearning.com/event/
Offered in partnership with Take Me Outside. ☀ ... See MoreSee Less
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⛵️ Our summer sale ends on August 31! outdoorlearning.com/product-category/limited-stock-remaining/ ... See MoreSee Less
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This week in our staff series, we are featuring Katy who grew up to be our Orders & Outreach Supporter! 🤩 She ships out 100's of orders each month, and also send out 100's of invitations each month for our various learning opportunities. 🦋 She continues to hang out in nature regularly, and is also a key team member with the Invermere Public Library. Learn more about Katy, and the rest of our awesome team: outdoorlearning.com/about/our-awesome-team/ ... See MoreSee Less
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🥰 Join these lovely ladies for a FREE online introductory Michif language course starting in September! Sign-up: outdoorlearning.com/metis/ ... See MoreSee Less
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🤩 Our fall courses, workshops & events are confirmed! outdoorlearning.com/event/ So many amazing people and organizations that we are partnering with. 💚 ... See MoreSee Less
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Educators - we invite you to start the school year off right. 🧡 outdoorlearning.com/event/truth-reconciliation-2026/ ... See MoreSee Less
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