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CBEEN event speaks to trustees from across the Basin
Last Friday (Sept. 20) at Radium Resort the Columbia Basin Environmental Education Network (CBEEN) hosted the pre-conference opening event for the annual meeting of school board trustees from across the Columbia Basin.
Dubbed the Environmental Education Expo and Presentation, the event drew school board trustees, teachers, administration and environmental educators from across the region.
The afternoon kicked off with keynote speaker and local celebrated wildlife biologist and educator Dave Quinn of Kimberley. Quinn shared the value of environmental education with the crowd and how this type of education is becoming more important with each generation as we get more and more plugged into a virtual world.
This presentation also offered some of CBEEN’s key partners, including Parks Canada, Wildsight and Columbia Basin Trust (CBT), the opportunity to share their environmental education programs. Rick Allen, CBT’s Manager of the Environment, also shared with attendees how CBT’s new Environmental Strategic Plan will help to support environmental education initiatives across the Columbia Basin.
Following the formal presentation, CBEEN invited organizations from across the Columbia Basin to showcase their environmental education programs available to schools. This opportunity drew a fantastic response and the Radium Resort swelled with 30 organizations from across the Kootenays.
Todd Larsen, who is new in his role as coordinator of the East Kootenay Invasive Plant Council (EKIPC), was very happy to have attended the event. “I was able to connect with other exhibitors, extend outreach opportunities to teachers and trustees, and spread the word to others!”
CBEEN was pleased to be able to offer this opportunity to both its members and school districts.
As CBEEN director Yann Loranger exclaimed, “It was a great event! A first for CBEEN… a really, great accomplishment!”
After 10 years in operation, CBEEN has now gained charitable status and was just recently awarded the national award for ‘Outstanding Environmental Education Membership Organization.’
It provides resources and support for more than 400 members, and facilitates environmental education programs for up to 10,000 students every year.
For more information on CBEEN please visit www.cbeen.org.
Lead photo: Roots & Shoots Club Members from Windermere Elementary School share information on Dr. Jane Goodall’s environmental education and action program Sept. 20 at Radium Resort.
CBEEN
