From the Executive Director & chair

This year, we’re more grateful than ever for the community of people who stand with Wildsight to defend the lands, waters and wildlife that sustain us. Your commitment to a future where healthy ecosystems and thriving communities go hand-in-hand inspires us every day. It’s a powerful reminder that meaningful change begins with people who care enough to act.

Across our region and beyond, we’re seeing governments step back from commitments to climate action and environmental protection, often in favour of expanding natural resource extraction. At times like these, the role of community voices — informed, engaged and determined — becomes even more important. The future of the places we love depends on people being willing to speak up and demand better.

Wildsight’s work is rooted in that belief. We are an organization grounded in our communities, guided by science and driven by hope. Whether we’re bringing people onto the land to learn about local ecosystems, supporting young leaders as they develop the skills and knowledge to care for the natural world, or advocating for stronger protections for wildlife and habitat, our goal is the same: to help build a liveable future for the next generation where nature and communities thrive together.

Seeing how many people stepped up for the wild last year is a cause for much optimism. Across the Columbia Basin, people are learning more about the places they call home, getting involved in local conservation efforts, and advocating for policies that safeguard the ecosystems we all depend on. This growing movement of informed and engaged citizens is one of our greatest strengths.

Thank you for being part of the Wildsight community. Your support makes this work possible and helps ensure that the wild places we love endure for generations to come.

Robyn Duncan,
Executive Director

Brian Conrad,
Chair

progress for southern mountain caribou habitat protection

Following sustained advocacy from Wildsight and others, BC Timber Sales promised to pause all new logging development in core Southern Mountain Caribou habitat in the Revelstoke-Shuswap region last year. The decision, communicated to Wildsight via email in May, is a beacon of hope for the Columbia North caribou herd, which is one of the last remaining herds in the region. 

Despite this positive news, Southern Mountain Caribou herds will continue to decline until the old and primary forests they rely on are mapped, given long-term protection, and restored. 

Research released last year by Wildsight, Stand.earth and Wilderness Committee revealed that almost 6,000 hectares of critical caribou habitat is either approved or pending approval for logging in the ranges of the Columbia North, Wells Gray South and Groundhog herds. With seven herds further south now locally extinct, these three herds are considered to have the best chance of recovery of B.C.’s remaining southernmost caribou.

Canada has a legal obligation to map and protect Southern Mountain Caribou critical habitat under the Species At Risk Act. Mapping was meant to be completed in late 2014, but remains unfinished. Early last year, our lawyers at Ecojustice put Environment Canada on notice for its delay, to no avail. We are now in court to compel the federal government to meet its legal obligations for caribou.

More conservation highlights

a forum for the future of columbia valley waters

In 2025, Wildsight co-hosted Flowing it Forward, a water forum designed to raise awareness and promote responsible stewardship of Columbia Valley waterways.

From whirling disease and invasive mussels to declining water quality and the impacts of water-based recreation, our aquatic ecosystems face growing threats that require attention and action. Flowing it Forward brought together experts and the public to explore some of these pressing challenges and discuss possible solutions. 

Highlights included opening remarks by Faro Burgoyne from the ʔakisq̓nuk First Nation, results from a Lake Windermere Ambassadors-commissioned study on the impacts of power boats, and a presentation from the Columbia Wetlands Stewardship Partners about the growing number of people recreating on the upper Columbia River. 

water equity in a changing climate

High school students are facing a future of water scarcity. In the 2024-25 school year, we launched our newest education program, Watershed Matters, to approximately 360 students in grades 10–12, to help them understand the complexities of watershed management within the context of our changing climate. 

Watershed Matters combines a strong scientific knowledge base with hands-on practice that addresses the real-world issues of water scarcity and equity. From classroom learning to an immersive field trip, students learn the ebb and flow of local water management. They are encouraged to ask questions, consider alternative solutions and work together to create a sustainable plan for a fictitious community’s water supply. 

This program is a partnership between Wildsight and Living Lakes Canada, bringing scientific data into focus while providing expert guidance as students navigate the many facets of watershed management. Through the three-session program, youth begin to visualize the complexities of competing community values, the importance of water protections, and how to meet the needs of water users fairly amidst changing water levels year-to-year.

“The lessons challenged my students to navigate complex questions about water management, providing real insight into watershed science,” one teacher shared with us after the program ran in their classroom. 

wildlife kit provides hands-on learning

Building on the success of Wildsight’s first social enterprise offering, Stories in the Wild, we released another engaging classroom resource last year: Claws, Paws & Jaws. Suitable for grades 1–7, the kit brings the wonders of carnivores and omnivores to life as students become nature detectives, exploring predators’ behaviour, survival strategies and the crucial roles they play in our ecosystems. 

Both kits provide teachers with background information, teaching tools and interactive activities to bring environmental learning into their classrooms. Proceeds from these social enterprise offerings support Wildsight environmental education throughout B.C.’s Columbia Basin.

learning from the river

In July, we took 16 youth on an inspiring adventure through key portions of the Columbia River. They explored the history and current state of the river, connecting the dots from local to international actions and impacts. Our goal with the annual Columbia River Field School is to inspire leaders who are knowledgeable in multiple aspects of the river’s story, and motivated to speak up for its future.

“I learned about the history of the river and this land in what I think is probably the most meaningful way out there. I’ll never forget this,” said one 2025 field school participant.

supporting teachers to teach the columbia

Wildsight’s Teach the Columbia resource gives teachers the information and tools they need to bring knowledge about the Columbia River basin to their students, making this critical learning more accessible to classrooms across the region. 

We also brought a small group of teachers onto the river last year for a multi-day field course to give them the skills, knowledge and confidence to make the Teach the Columbia curriculum come alive with their own students.

education by the numbers

Last year, we celebrated 25 years of delivering environmental education to youth across the Columbia Basin, and beyond. In that time, we’ve delivered over 100,000 learning experiences. Now, with a team of 14 educators, our reach and offerings continue to grow. Here are some of the highlights from the 2024-2025 school year.

charcoal-charged change

Wildsight and partners are exploring the feasibility of producing biochar from forestry waste as part of a broader Wildsight initiative to help rural communities build economic resilience while responding to climate change.

Biochar is a form of carbon-rich charcoal that can enhance soil health for more productive agriculture, and sequester carbon from the atmosphere. If feasible, it could offer a productive way to transform the piles of slash that logging operations and wildfire risk reduction projects leave behind, which would typically otherwise be burned.

Last year, Youth Climate Corps crews from the East and West Kootenays supported a pilot project through wildfire risk reduction work near the communities of Creston and Wynndel. 

In partnership with the Creston Community Forest, the two crews cleared woody debris across 3.6 hectares of Goat Mountain. Instead of burning, some of the debris were chipped and delivered to local farms, where they were used for mulching fruit trees, landscaping and composting, putting the principles of a circular economy into action. This coming year, we’ll be leveling up and producing biochar using specially designed kilns.

The Youth Climate Corps empowers young adults to not only learn about the climate crisis, but also what steps they can take to help turn the dial back — all while getting paid, earning qualifications, and gaining skills and experience for their future career. 

seeds of hope

Last fall, the East Kootenay Youth Climate Corps planted approximately 2,000 whitebark pine seedlings across two recently burnt sites in the southern Rockies and Purcells. This restoration work is part of an ongoing effort to protect whitebark pine, an endangered species that is threatened by white pine blister rust, mountain pine beetle, forest fires, and a changing climate.

Whitebark pine is a keystone species that provides food for many animals, including Clark’s nutcrackers and bears. Its root systems help stabilize soil and snow, and prevent erosion.

community ambassadors in training

The West Kootenay Youth Climate Corps partnered with the Regional District of Central Kootenay to promote five regional climate resilience programs: FireSmart, emergency preparedness, water conservation, waste diversion and regional energy efficiency. The crew delivered 12 informational sessions in collaboration with local community organizations, reaching more than 100 residents from across the most rural areas of the central Kootenays.

This project allowed crew members to develop presentation, organization and collaboration skills while also learning about ways that the government can support climate action at the local level.

restoring a local creek

Restoring Kimberley’s Lois Creek has been a flagship project of the East Kootenay Youth Climate Corps for several years. Two years ago, crew members planted more than 3,000 native plants.

The 2025 crew played a crucial role in ensuring these native plants have the best possible chance of survival by removing invasive species such as hawkweed, Canada thistle and spotted knapweed to prevent their seeds from dispersing in the restoration site. They also planted more than 1,200 native trees, forbs, and shrubs as part of continued restoration efforts.

branch highlights

Wildsight’s six autonomous branches worked directly within their local communities to empower environmentally sustainable lifestyles and protect the wild. These are just a few of the diverse projects they worked on — to find out more, support their work or get involved, visit the branch pages linked below or find them on social media. 

Revenue $2.21M

*Donations also include memberships.

**Miscellaneous includes events, resource sales, exchange gains/losses, market value adjustments, interest and other miscellaneous revenue.

Expenses $2.15M

*Partner organizations represents grant funds we used to support Youth Climate Corps BC and West Kootenay Watershed Collaborative projects that are aligned with our charitable purpose.

See Wildsight’s full audited financial statements.

This report covers Wildsight’s fiscal year from October 1, 2024 to September 30, 2025.

Thank you to the incredible funders who supported Wildsight throughout the 2024-2025 financial year. Without you, our work wouldn’t be possible.