Teach the Columbia

Teach The Columbia is a curriculum package meant to help educators engage their students with many dimensions of the Columbia River watershed — past, present, and future. To access all the full curriculum package, simply sign up for Teach the Columbia updates and you’ll be sent a password. (And don’t worry, this information is not shared anywhere else!)

The curriculum was inspired by the Columbia River Field School program, our 15-day, Board Approved and accredited field course. While we believe it is important to offer this immersive experience to keen Basin youth, we also know that many more students should have an opportunity to learn about these important topics. 

Teach The Columbia is primarily intended for high school students, but includes lesson extensions suitable for college courses as well. Educators working with younger students have also found it useful as a base from which to develop age appropriate lessons. It currently includes 11 lesson plans split into three different cross-curricular modules, which can be accessed and downloaded for free. The lessons are intended to be flexible and adaptable; use all 11 or pick and choose individual lessons. Each lesson includes an overview, guiding questions, learning goals, materials and suggested preparation, detailed instructions, an appendix, BC curriculum links, and optional extensions.

To access all the full curriculum package, simply sign up for Teach the Columbia updates and you’ll be sent a password.

We hope you will find these lessons to be fun and impactful for you and your students!

CONTACT:
Please fill out the Teach The Columbia Google Form Survey with your comments and questions, or contact Graeme Lee Rowlands

SIGN UP for Teach the Columbia news and events to stay informed on all the latest from this program, including upcoming workshop opportunities for teachers!

 

Education news

A river monitoring study in BC's Flathead watershed is giving researchers an inside look into how natural and human-impacted landscapes change over time.Read more 

Where hope takes root

September 21, 2026
Is it just me, or did we all breathe a collective sigh of relief when the leaves started to turn? The promise of fall brings cooler temperatures, shorter days and…Read more 
Are you passionate about teaching ecological literacy, nature connection, sustainability and environmental stewardship? Wildsight is seeking an educator to join our team and deliver the following programs: Winter Wonder, Classroom…Read more 
We stand on Coyote Plateau, high above the Rocky Mountain Trench. Our group of 12 teens from across the Columbia Basin survey the same sweeping landscape that has captivated people…Read more 
Once upon a time, a wildfire whipped through a forest. Flames ate ferociously through the land as animals dashed away in fear.Read more 
Last month, Wildsight's Graeme Lee Rowlands was recognized for his outstanding work in the field of environmental education with an Award of Excellence from the Columbia Basin Environmental Education…Read more 
Read more news

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