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Wild Voices for Kids program growing
The Columbia Basin Environmental Education Network (CBEEN) is growing, and would like to give cheers to BC Hydro, Revelstoke Credit Union, TD Friends of the Environment Foundation and Columbia Basin Trust, for their support of CBEEN’s Wild Voices for Kids (WVFK) program. Thanks to these community-minded organizations, approximately 47,00 students across the Columbia Basin in six school districts have enjoyed environmental or heritage programs already this school year.
The financial contributions of these organizations have allowed our children the opportunity for hands-on learning. Through these programs they have discovered local archeology, explored wildlife habitats on snowshoes, learned about avalanche safety, and studied bats and local fossils. CBEEN’s website offers 133 different programs by 79 community educators across the Columbia Basin. Wild Voices for Kids also supports getting children out of the classroom and into the field by covering the cost of bussing for field trips.
WVFK program coordinator Susie MacDonald emphasizes, “This program, which is unique in Canada, offers our students’ education from the local source that schools are often unable to fit into their strained budgets. Programs meet their grade and curriculum needs in a unique and interesting way with presenters drawn from all walks of life to share their unique passions about environmental and heritage topics. The value of these programs lies not only in curriculum but also in the hands-on learning style that captures students who have difficulty learning in the traditional classroom style.”
CBEEN anticipates that if funding allows, over 7,000 more students could enjoy a Wild Voices for Kids program this year. CBEEN is undertaking a campaign to raise $25,000 to ensure continued programming through this spring and into the fall of 2013.
Applause goes to the Regional District of East Kootenay for contributing already to this challenge. If you or your organization is interested in contributing to our children’s education through this unique program please contact Susie MacDonald at [email protected].
CBEEN is a registered charity and individual donations can be made on our website www.cbeen.org.
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