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.
❤️ 💪 Our 1st virtual workshop of 2026 was a poignant and powerful way to begin the year. 'Seeing Ourselves in Nature' offered diverse and necessary perspectives to continue the work of ensuring access, equity and diversity in outdoor learning. You can find the recording here: outdoorlearning.com/virtual-workshop-recordings/ ... See MoreSee Less
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On Monday, Robin Wall Kimmerer will be joining Monique Gray Smith for the 1st session of this 4-session course. 🥰 Everyone is invited! outdoorlearning.com/event/braiding-sweetgrass-for-educators-winter-2026/ ... See MoreSee Less
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⭐️ Our 1st FREE virtual workshop of 2026 is tomorrow! outdoorlearning.com/event/ ... See MoreSee Less
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Join us tomorrow for this FREE Michif Language Course, supported by Métis Nation British Columbia! outdoorlearning.com/metis/
If you missed the first class last week, not to worry, a recording is available and we invite you to sign-up to join us tomorrow. 🥰
Columbia Valley Metis Association
Kootenay South Métis Nation Columbia River Society
West Kootenay Métis
Métis Nation Columbia River Society
Rocky Mountain Métis Association
West Kootenay Métis Society
Métis Nation British Columbia: www.mnbc.ca/citizens-culture/chartered-communities ... See MoreSee Less
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This week we are very excited to be hosting Leona & Jessica, who will be facilitating 2 different online learning sessions! outdoorlearning.com/event/
☀ Tuesday, January 13 with Jessica Fong: Seeing Ourselves in Nature: Diversity, Equity & Inclusion in Outdoor Learning Free Virtual Workshop offered in partnership with Take Me Outside: outdoorlearning.com/.../seeing-ourselves-in-nature/
☀ Thursday, January 15 with Leona Prince: Indigenous Learning Presentation offered in partnership with Natural Curiosity, Reconciliation Education and OneHoop: outdoorlearning.com/.../4-seasons-presentations.../
We hope you can join us for these fantastic learning opportunities! 🥰 outdoorlearning.com/event/ ... See MoreSee Less
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☀ Join Leona Prince next week for this 1 hour virtual presentation: outdoorlearning.com/event/4-seasons-presentations-2025-2026/ ... See MoreSee Less
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💚 In collaboration with our partners at Diversity Education in Nature (DEIN) we have launched this downloadable student workbook! outdoorlearning.com/product/dein-workbook/
This 19-page downloadable .pdf student workbook will help guide students through a series of experiences in the outdoors that will help build the nature awareness skills of attentiveness, wonderfulling, pattern-seeking, and creativity, as well as understand the concepts of biodiversity, mutualism, and ecological relationships. From these experiences, students will gain both inspiration and a better understanding of how to build a community grounded in belonging. 🥰
We invite you to join us next week at a free virtual workshop to learn more about this resource from the developers at DEIN: outdoorlearning.com/event/seeing-ourselves-in-nature/ ... See MoreSee Less
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We invite EVERYONE to join us at the Invermere Public Library on Thursday, January 15th to view this presentation by Leona Prince. This is a pilot program in an effort provide greater access for this important learning, and even if you haven't registered for the full '4 Seasons of Indigenous Learning' course, this is a chance to get a taste of this learning opportunity together with other community members. You can find out more about the presenter, Leona Prince, here: outdoorlearning.com/2025/12/28/3-leona-prince/ ... See MoreSee Less
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🌿 6 FREE Virtual 1-hour Workshops to kick off 2026! Sign-up: outdoorlearning.com/event/
Your registration for each workshop includes:
🎥 Access to the Recording
🖼️ Access to a Certificate of Attendance
🎁 Entry for some great prizes!
Offered in partnership with Take Me Outside and our Outdoor Learning Partners! outdoorlearning.com/about/partners/ ... See MoreSee Less
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