A new environmental education program focused on sustainability and climate resilience is inspiring students to design the communities of tomorrow.
Wildsight, a Kootenay-based environmental organization, developed FutureMakers to counter the growing eco-anxiety amongst youth today. By pairing examples of sustainable living with hands-on activities, FutureMakers shifts climate education towards hope and action.
Based on Wildsight’s long-running Beyond Recycling program, FutureMakers provides an updated, streamlined resource tailored for grades 4–7.
“The aim was to develop an easy-to-use resource for busy classroom teachers that helps students address their future with a perspective of hope,” explained Dawn Deydey, Wildsight’s FutureMakers and Beyond Recycling coordinator.
FutureMakers is accessible online, and includes video lessons, extension activities to expand the learning opportunities, student planning book and even a teacher forum to share experiences and connect with other teachers. Lessons cover food, waste, water, energy and transportation.
After extensive teacher feedback and collaboration with environmental educators to create the material, FutureMakers was offered as a pilot program to nine teachers in schools across the Columbia Basin. Teachers found it engaging, easy to use and educational, and all agreed they would recommend it to other teachers.
Revelstoke teacher Connie Haworth said FutureMakers aligned perfectly with her science curriculum on energy resources. The program’s emphasis on sustainability struck a chord with her students, who introduced extra recycling bins to their classroom.
“Simply put, they learned the importance of sustainable choices,” said Haworth. “The students became more focused on the decisions they make at home and the green choices we are able to make here in our smaller community.”
Haworth’s class particularly enjoyed the hands-on elements, from field trips to building their future communities. She recalled a heartwarming moment when one of her students enthusiastically expressed their excitement during a class project: “This is so fun! I love how we can use our own ideas. I am SOOOO glad we did this!”
The program supported Lindsay Stark’s classroom goals by providing relevant materials that helped students dive into various aspects of a sustainable community. The Salmon Arm teacher noted that many of her students were introduced to ideas they might not have otherwise encountered, thanks to the program’s videos and extension activities.
“My students learned many different things, particularly about aspects of a sustainable community they hadn’t considered before,” Stark said. “The videos and extension activities were brilliant, packed with information, and the kids loved them.”
A positive outlook for environmental education:
For over 25 years, Wildsight Education has fostered a love for nature and environmental stewardship across the Columbia Basin. FutureMakers is the latest step in continuing this mission, empowering the next generation to take action and create a more sustainable world. FutureMakers is available through the Outdoor Learning School & Store.
The Outdoor Learning School and Store is hosting a free webinar to introduce this program on Tuesday, October 29th, 4 pm Pacific. Participants will receive a discount code to access outdoor learning resources upon registration, and anyone is welcome to attend. See the details here.
