Central Kootenay teacher and educational leader, Laura Jackman, has been recognized for her efforts to support and advance environmental education throughout the Columbia Basin and across B.C.

On Friday, October 9 she was presented with this year’s North American Award of Excellence for Outstanding Service to Environmental Education.

Throughout her teaching career, Jackman has focused on creating practical, hands-on outdoor learning opportunities for students while helping fellow teachers integrate environmental stewardship into their classrooms.

Laura is the Network Manager with the Columbia Basin Environmental Education Network (CBEEN) She coordinates the annual Environmental Education Leadership Clinic to offer mentorship to emerging outdoor educators, as well as CBEEN’s annual Retreat for Educators.

Additionally, she manages the Wild Voices for Kids Program, which connects local classrooms with community organizations so thousands of students can participate in meaningful, curriculum-connected outdoor experiences each year.

At her school in Rossland, Jackman worked to secure grants to help reestablish a small wetland on a one-acre parcel of adjacent land. This site has since become a shared outdoor classroom where more than 250 students now receive weekly science instruction. She also introduced a school food garden and organized school-wide events to help students connect directly with their local environment.

Believing in the value of shared teaching practices, Jackman regularly facilitates opportunities to help colleagues discover new outdoor resources and build confidence teaching outside. Her efforts to support fellow educators extend to her role as Vice President of the Environmental Educators’ Provincial Specialist Association (EEPSA), supported by the BC Teachers’ Federation, where she helps provide curriculum support and networking opportunities across British Columbia.

She also sits on the board of the provincial Classrooms to Communities (C2C) Education Network Society.

“I’m incredibly honoured to receive this award and grateful to be part of a community of educators and organizations committed to connecting students to the natural world. At its heart, Environmental Education is about building relationships – with one another and with the Land. Through this connection, we can nurture a deeper sense of belonging, help young people understand the more-than-human world, and inspire them to care for the communities they are a part of,” said Jackman.

By collaborating with schools, non-profits, and local professionals, Jackman has focused on building a supportive community for educators. Her dedication continues to help teachers throughout British Columbia find the networks, resources, and confidence they need to bring environmental learning to life for their students.

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