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 activities, FutureMakers shifts climate education away from eco-anxiety and towards hope and action. Based on Wildsight’s long-running Beyond Recycling program, this new resource provides an updated, streamlined resource tailored for grades 4–7.
“It was designed to be an easy-to-use, online tool for classroom teachers,” explained Dawn Deydey, Wildsight’s FutureMakers and Beyond Recycling coordinator. “The aim was to develop an easy-to-use resource for busy classroom teachers that helps students address their future with a perspective of hope.”
FutureMakers is an online program that includes video lessons, extension activities to expand the learning opportunities, student planning book and even a teacher forum to share experiences and connect with other teachers.
After extensive teacher feedback and collaboration with environmental educators to create the material, FutureMakers was then offered as a pilot program to nine teachers in schools across the Columbia Basin. Teachers found the resource engaging, easy to use and educational, and all agreed they would recommend it to other teachers.
Revelstoke teacher Connie Haworth said FutureMakers aligned perfectly with her science curriculum on energy resources. The program’s emphasis on sustainability struck a chord with her students, who introduced extra recycling bins to their classroom.
“They learned the importance of sustainable choices. The students became more focused on the decisions they make at home and the green choices we are able to make here in our smaller community.”Teacher Connie Haworth
Connie’s class particularly enjoyed the hands-on elements, from field trips to building their future communities. She recalled a heartwarming moment when one of her students enthusiastically expressed their excitement during a class project: “This is so fun! I love how we can use our own ideas. I am SOOOO glad we did this!”
The program supported Lindsay Stark’s classroom goals by providing relevant materials that helped students dive into various aspects of a sustainable community. The Salmon Arm teacher noted that many of her students were introduced to ideas they might not have otherwise encountered, thanks to the program’s videos and extension activities.
“My students learned many different things, particularly about aspects of a sustainable community they hadn’t considered before,” Lindsay said. “The videos and extension activities were brilliant, packed with information, and the kids loved them.”
The field trip to a local landfill and recycling centre was a highlight for her class, offering an eye-opening look at what happens to waste. Many of her students shared their newfound knowledge with their families, demonstrating the program’s reach beyond the classroom.
A Positive Outlook for Environmental Education
Teachers can access the resource through the Outdoor Learning School & Store. With its online format and adaptability to various classroom settings, FutureMakers offers a valuable resource for teachers across British Columbia. Golden teacher Angela Vaillancourt said the program format was easy to follow and simple to place into her classroom schedule.
“Everything was laid out for me,” Angela said. “And there were plenty of resources to deepen students’ understanding of the topics.”
For over 25 years, Wildsight Education has fostered a love for nature and environmental stewardship across the Columbia Basin. FutureMakers is the latest step in continuing this mission, empowering the next generation to take action and create a more sustainable world.
The Outdoor Learning School and Store hosted a webinar to introduce this program to educators on Tuesday, October 29th. The recording is now available!
