Teach the Columbia field course

Friday, September 29, 2023 - Sunday, October 1, 2023
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Educators, it’s your turn to learn! With a master canoe instructor as your guide, you’ll paddle and explore the Columbia River over this three day field trip. Learn new course material in a fun and welcoming environment alongside other educators interested in this amazing watershed we call home.

Recognizing the importance of National Day of Truth and Reconciliation on Sept 30th, our second annual Teach the Columbia Field Course focuses on the need to bring Truth and Reconciliation learning into our teachings, with a specific emphasis on the Columbia River.

This condensed Columbia River Field School, three-day, two-night adventure immerses you in the geography, history, ecology, hydrology, politics, economics and more of the Columbia River Basin. We’ll workshop Wildsight’s suite of curriculum-based resources: Teach the Columbia, so you can take any or all of these 11 lesson plans back to your students with confidence this coming year.

You’ll meet other educators interested in Columbia River Basin issues, and together we’ll build a community of practice.

Location: Near Castlegar along the Arrow Lakes Reservoir. Participants will need to travel independently to the start location, but we will help organize carpooling and shuttle everyone back to their vehicles after taking out from the river. The course will start in the mid-morning on September 29th, and conclude mid-afternoon on October 1st. Participants will receive detailed information covering all logistical matters.

Participants: Teach the Columbia curriculum is mostly geared towards high school teachers, but we welcome educators with other grades and roles, including non-formal educators in the Columbia Basin.

Cost: Teach the Columbia and this field course are made possible by the generous support of our funders. To help cover a minor portion of trip costs, we ask that participants pay a course fee.

  • Apply by September 18th: $300
  • Late applications: $500
  • Financial aid available if necessary. All food, canoes, and specialized gear for the trip will be provided.

Please note that space is limited. Some spots will be reserved for educators already using the Teach the Columbia Curriculum to support ongoing growth. We may also select participants to ensure a diverse geographic spread as well as to include a range of grade levels/ages and subject areas. We will endeavour to let you know if there is a spot available for you as soon as we can and will aim to give all interested people adequate notice.

Learn more about the field course.

Learn more about Teach the Columbia curriculum.