Wildsight Education

It’s no secret that change and education go hand in hand. Our children are the future stewards of the planet. The goals of our education programs are simple yet powerful: get children outside into their wild backyards in order to instill a sense of connection and place, and to give them the tools to face the challenges of sustainability with knowledge and inspiration.

Our education programs are delivered throughout the Columbia Basin by a team of inspiring educators and are directly linked to grade-specific Big Ideas.

Since 2001, Wildsight Education programs have connected over 90,000 kids with the natural world. Classroom With Outdoors and Winter Wonder make ecology come alive through hands-on activities like dip-netting, water quality testing and examining ice crystals in the snow. EcoStewards take students on a deeper dive, providing multiple opportunities for inquiry, action and place-based learning throughout the school year. 

Beyond Recycling, our 24-week sustainability education program tackles topics such as energy, waste and consumption, and empowers students to come up with creative solutions to environmental challenges. 

Watershed Matters engages Grades 10–12 students in the complexities of watershed management and governance, all within the context of a changing climate.

Go Wild and Columbia River Field School provide immersive multi-day adventures for high school students, challenging them to go beyond their limits and explore the deep and complex stories told by our region’s mountains and rivers. We also offer a full package of free lessons on the Columbia River watershed through our Teach the Columbia curriculum, best suited for high school students but adaptable for many ages.

Give the gift of awe and wonder by donating to our education programs or donate to the Jim & Laura Duncan Water Education Fund.

For inspiration, ideas, and resources to get your learners outside, visit our Environmental Education Resources page.


Education news

Wildsight's Winter Wonder program invites students to explore the ecology, environment and educational experiences found in nature just steps from the classroom door. Students learn basic ecological principles that…Read more 
Do you know a woman who has made an outstanding contribution to protecting nature or environmental education in the Columbia Headwaters region? Celebrate her commitment to nature by nominating her…Read more 
Six days backpacking the Kootenay backcountry. Learn to be a leader, connect to the landscape, and leave with a love of the mountains that will last a lifetime.Read more 
An amazing summer field school for teens aged 15–18 (which also earns participants FOUR credits through a partnership with SD8) is now open for applications. Two weeks of fun, and a once-in-a-lifetime experience!Read more 
Wildsight's own Dawn Deydey led a workshop on Tuesday, October 29 with the Outdoor Learning School & Store to officially launch our newest educational offering! FutureMakers is designed for…Read more 
Wildsight's new environmental education program focused on sustainability and climate resilience is inspiring students to design the communities of tomorrow. By pairing examples of sustainable living with hands-on…Read more 
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Join The Team

Want to protect wildlife, clean water and wild spaces? Volunteer with us! Wildsight volunteers are a very special group of people who give generously of their time to stuff envelopes, attend rallies, help run events, put up posters, keep tabs on forestry practices in their communities and participate in citizen science initiatives.

VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES