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 FREE Michif (Métis) introductory language course that is open to everyone! outdoorlearning.com/metis/
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Métis Resources & Learning Opportunities - Outdoor Learning School & Store
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Métis Resources & Learning OpportunitiesThese are all offered, written, created, developed and/or facilitated by Métis authors, educators and artists, and offered in partnership with a variety of M...1 CommentsComment on Facebook
Four FANTASTIC summer reads for kids! ☀🌳
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😎 Looking for some good summer reads? This series of 4 books is 50% off as part of our summer sale! outdoorlearning.com/product/math-in-nature-seasonal-series/ ... See MoreSee Less
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🙌 New book by Jo Chrona! Pre-order your copy through our charity: outdoorlearning.com/product/grounding-assessment/ ... See MoreSee Less
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☀️ Learn more about Ktunaxa Land and Culture through these excellent resources & learning opportunities: ... See MoreSee Less
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Ktunaxa-Resources – CBEEN Online
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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
🤩 Kate grew up to be our Orders Manager! 🌍 As a child, she explored the eastern shores of this continent, and now calls the Rocky Mountains home. She ships orders out to all corners of Turtle Island, and beyond! ➡️ Meet Kate, and the rest of our awesome team: lnkd.in/g9XQTNBU ... See MoreSee Less
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🥳 Today Kate is celebrating 4 years as our Orders Manager! She has personally shipped out over 25,000 orders, and handwritten notes to accompany each and every one of them. 💚 Pictured here are a few of her family's favourite things:
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😍 Join us for this FREE 1 hour virtual workshop for parents, educators & camp leaders! outdoorlearning.com/events/category/workshops/
🌳 Spending time in nature year-round helps develop a sense of belonging. When we belong we feel connected, nourished, and alive. In this workshop our expert presenters will share ideas, activities and inspiration from their water, nature, Land and camp curriculums.
☀ Find a spot in the shade & join us for this free virtual workshop! Offered in partnership with Take Me Outside & Project WET Canada in collaboration with our partners at Camp Kawartha & Global, Environmental, and Outdoor Education Council. ... See MoreSee Less
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Starts next week! 💜 Sign-up: outdoorlearningstore.com/event/ ... See MoreSee Less
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