Who we are, what we do, and how we do it!

1. WILDED…NATURE IS OUR CLASSROOM!
Today, there is a generation of young people growing up without any real
experience or knowledge of wilderness or nature, resulting in a serious
disconnect. The WildED program reconnects young people with nature so they
can experience, know and understand the value of nature as well as its critical
role in the health and sustainability of our communities.

2. TABLE OF CONTENTS
Introduction to WildED _____________________________ 1
Vision _________________________________________________ 2
Goals and Program Philosophy ____________________________ 2
Curriculum________________________________________ 3
Instructional Framework – WWW _________________________ 3
Philosophy of Learning __________________________________ 4
Key Learning Themes and Objectives ______________________ 5
Educational Program Offerings _______________________ 7
WildED In-school Programs ______________________________ 7
WildED Outdoor Classroom Programs _____________________ 7
WildED Interpretive Nature Hikes _________________________ 8
WildED Teacher Workshops and Online Curriculum Resources 8
The WildEDucation Team __________________________ 10

3. Introduction to WildED
WildED is an award winning,
experiential, school-based nature
education program that is BC
curriculum-linked for students in
grades 4 -12. Our programs are
delivered by professional
teachers with backgrounds in
biology and natural sciences.
They are also experienced
outdoor educators and wilderness
explorers who share their
knowledge and lifetime of
adventures to capture the
imagination and wonder of
young people with their
inspirational stories. WildED
programs are widely applicable
to a range of academic subjects from grade 4 through to 12 with relevant learning outcomes in
science, geography, social studies, phys-ed, visual arts and the language arts. More than 50,000
students and teachers have experienced our innovative school programs, nature hikes, and
teacher workshops over the past decade.
THE DIFFERENCE WE ARE MAKING
WildED takes a lead role in educating young people about our remarkable wilderness history and
legacy. We are providing in-nature experiences in provincial and regional parks, and we are
working closely with school teachers to ensure nature education is re-introduced into mainstream
school curriculum. Our program model is tested and proven. Over the past decade, we have
worked to ensure WildED is providing a program that:
 Inspires a personal connection to nature, parks and wilderness among young people
 Increases understanding of, and appreciation for, the natural world
 Motivates young people to take action to care for nature and wild places
 Encourages learning by experiencing nature first-hand
 Serves the full range of our culturally and ethnically diverse populations, since the
school districts we serve in the Lower Mainland and Fraser Valley are themselves
ethnically diverse - Asian, and Indo-Canadian ethnic communities, demographically
represent almost 40% of the population in the school districts we serve
 Engages and invests in youth by providing additional opportunities for leadership and
skills training, and facilitating youth involvement in community restoration projects in
our local parks
 Encourages and supports youth participation in decision-making processes that
impact their communities
 Promotes active, healthy lifestyles for young people
 Provides educational rigour to facilitate integration into BC school curriculum
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4. Geographic Reach: WildED’s program delivery is focused on the Lower Mainland, Fraser
Valley, Sea to Sky Corridor, and the Sunshine Coast where approximately 70% of British
Columbia’s population resides. Distribution of WildED programs is facilitated via our website,
where teachers can download teaching resources, lesson plans, and activities. We also provide
teacher support to schools via email and our toll-free phone line.
Awards and Certification
WildED has received six awards for excellence in environmental education and community
service, and is a Green Street approved program provider.
* Green Street Certification meeting national benchmarks for excellence in
environmental learning and sustainability education
* Gold Award for Education received from Burns Bog Conservation Society
* Roger Hammill Memorial Award for Environmental Education
* Sanford Award received from the Vancouver Natural History Society for extraordinary
achievement in community service
* British Columbia Minister's Environmental Award received from the BC Minister of
Environment, Lands and Parks for excellence in environmental education
* BC Environmental Education Award received from the Environmental Education
Provincial Specialist Association for an outstanding contribution to environmental
education in British Columbia schools
* Eugene Rogers Environmental Award from the United Nations Association, Vancouver
Branch, and Western Canada Wilderness Committee
Vision
WildED recognizes that being a responsible citizen and
steward of the environment is a life-long journey,
beginning in childhood. The vision and purpose for
WildED is a world where youth see nature, parks, and
wilderness as fundamental to their identity and survival,
see the stewardship of wild places as their
responsibility, and have an understanding of the
challenges and solutions to environmental issues they
will be inheriting, and as a society, will need to address.
Goals and Program Philosophy
“If education and other forces, intentionally or unintentionally, continue to push the young away
from direct experiences in nature, the cost to science itself will be high. Most scientists today
began their careers as children, chasing bugs and snakes, collecting spiders, and feeling awe in
the presence of nature. Since such untidy activities are fast disappearing, how, then, will our
future scientists learn about nature? I fear they will not.” Paul Dayton, Ph.D., winner of the
E.O.Wilson Naturalist Award
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5. Today, there is a generation of young people growing up without any real experience or
knowledge of wilderness or nature. Further to that, there is no teaching module in the school
curriculum that provides students with a broad understanding of the vital importance and role of
nature as it relates to the health of our planet and future sustainability of our society. We are
concerned future generations will not be prepared to solve and address serious issues such as
climate change if they have not been educated, nor provided a context for understanding the
human/nature context of those issues. The WildED program exists to address these concerns.
WildED reconnects young people with nature thereby ensuring future generations have an
understanding of our human/nature relationship as it is fundamental to our identity and essential
to our survival. Above all, WildED educates, inspires, and motivates the future leaders and
scientists who, through their connection to nature, will find solutions that address environmental
challenges related to the health of our planet and sustainability of our society.
WildED Goals:
 To ensure this generation of young people see nature, wildlife, and parks as fundamental
to their identity and the stewardship of wild places as their responsibility
 To facilitate and inspire youth to make a personal connection with nature, wildlife and
parks by experiencing nature first-hand
 To facilitate education for young people who are nature literate and inspired to become
the future leaders, and scientists who will help find solutions for environmental issues
related to the health of our planet and future sustainability of our society.
Curriculum
Instructional Framework – WWW
WildED’s objective is to provide
students and teachers with:
Wonder to inspire a personal
connection with wilderness
Wisdom to understand and
appreciate the importance of the
natural world
Works to get outdoors and to take
action in preserving and conserving
our wild places
All of our programs follow the
instructional framework of Wonder,
Wisdom and Works. We believe that
when students see wild places and get
out to experience them, Wonder will result. Wonder is followed with a desire to become learn
more about wild places (Wisdom). It is our hope that youth, who are amazed by and know about
nature and wild places, will desire to “get out there,” and “take action.” We provide the ways
for students to take action (Works) by linking students with existing organizations, by providing
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6. opportunities for youth to go into the wilderness, and facilitating youth to act as ambassadors for
wild places. Each WildED presentation covers outcomes within this framework at a level
appropriate to the audience’s age.
Philosophy of Learning
WildED educators are professional
teachers who have worked within
our formal education system and
therefore have the background,
experience, and understanding of
the needs and challenges teachers
face day to day. Our curriculum is
designed with a view to providing
relevant, meaningful, and easy
ways to integrate teachings into the
classroom on an ongoing basis.
WildED subscribes to the
following pedagogical ideas:
The Outdoor Classroom: There is
no greater way to learn about the natural world than to spend time in it. With this in mind,
WildED attempts to take students outside whenever possible for the most authentic learning
experience.
Experiential Learning: Our approach to nature education is experiential, with an aim to
facilitating a life-long connection to nature, parks, and wilderness. Hands-on activities are used
to foster that connection, e.g. nature interpretive walks to create awareness, exercises in nature
appreciation through art, and investigation and discovery through nature scavenger hunts.
Connected to the World Outside the Classroom: We use problem-based learning in a real-
world context to demonstrate how students’ own lives are connected and linked to wildlife and
nature. We promote local, relevant positive actions through follow-up activities that encourage
students to directly experience nature as well as connecting them to local nature clubs or
stewardship groups.
Case Studies: Case studies and scenarios are used to explore current issues, challenges, and the
range of possible solutions e.g. Case Study: British Columbia’s Parks System; Multi-Stakeholder
Park Planning Simulation Process.
Student-directed Learning: Students have the opportunity to practice critical thinking and
processes since our interactive programs use a problem-based learning approach and include
games, hands-on activities, music, and multi-media presentations.
Curriculum Linked: WildED readily integrates into prescribed curriculum. In addition, all
learning materials provide teachers clear instructions, objectives, background information as well
as suggestions for adaptations.
Constructivist Learning: Because WildED is curriculum linked, our lesson plans and activities
readily build upon the students’ previous learning.
Accommodating Diverse Learners: Our program subscribes to Multiple Intelligence Learning
Theory to accommodate diverse learners. There are eight ‘intelligences’ and we cover all eight
e.g. kinesthetic, spatial, musical, logical, interpersonal, intrapersonal, linguistic, and naturalist.
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7. Open-ended instruction: WildED
is catalytic in creating awareness,
enthusiasm, and curiosity to
discover more. It triggers teacher
led follow-up in a number of areas
based on student interest.
Integrated Learning: Our
program acknowledges that
everything is interconnected. We
examine wild systems compared to
systems developed by humans, and
the inter-relationship between the
two e.g. exploring the implications
of our actions as they may affect
the health of wildlife or
wilderness.
Assessment and Evaluation of Student Learning: Our interactive program engages students
with knowledge testing games such as Survivor. Our Feedback and Evaluation forms facilitate
student assessments and include opportunities for reflection and self-assessment.
Supporting Teacher Self Sufficiency & Competency through Ongoing Support: Through in-
class instruction, interactive teacher workshops, our website and toll-free phone number, we
provide ongoing teacher support. In addition, WildED’s website provides access to online
teacher resources, lesson plans, and activities that are adaptable and can be readily integrated for
all grade levels in order to increase teacher self-sufficiency and competency. Teachers and
students have access to a WildED educator for ongoing support via email and also via our toll-
free number.
Key Learning Themes and Objectives
Key learning themes, as below, are a direct reflection of
WildED goals, objectives and our program philosophy.
Our Changing Climate: WildED integrates concepts
that relate to climate change in the context of our
human/nature relationship to assist students in gaining
an understanding of how our own choices offer hope for
future solutions. Using a combination of case studies,
existing scientific data, and their own “on the ground”
field observations, students are able to learn about the
effect that climate change has on various
environments/ecosystems and the human populations
that depend upon them.
Ecosystems: WildED provides students with spectacular
images, games, and hands-on activities to help them
understand the importance of keystone species, how
food webs function, types of interactions between
species, the cycling of nutrients, and the
interdependence of life. We also introduce students to
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8. BC’s amazing wildlife, what these animals need to survive, and the importance of each species
in the web of life. Students are taught how their own lives are linked to wildlife and wild areas.
Biodiversity: Through guided imagery, stories, and outdoor hands-on experiences, we help
students feel the excitement of nature exploration, the awe of spectacular landscapes, and
develop a respect for BC’s amazing biodiversity. Students are also introduced to the incredible
variety of species that have adapted specially to inhabit BC’s wilderness areas.
Lifestyle & Sustainable Consumption: Our program challenges students to critically evaluate
issues of sustainability, resource management, and conservation. Students learn how their own
lives are linked to nature and wildlife through topics such as: the human influence on the carbon
cycle; nature, a source of clean air and water; and, consumption and resource extraction and their
effects on ecosystems. We examine past and present ways in which humans have interacted with
nature, and critically evaluate their role in the sustainable use of living and non-living resources.
Water: WildED programs address the critical importance of our rivers, oceans, riparian zones,
and lakes as wildlife habitat and the lifeblood of our ecosystems.
Program Objectives:
 To educate and provide an understanding of the interconnectedness of human systems
and systems in the natural world – our human/nature relationship
 To motivate and support students to develop environmental awareness and appreciation
of nature and wild places
 To ensure students recognize the vital importance of nature, parks and wilderness to a
sustainable future
 To inspire students to protect and preserve our rich wilderness legacy
 To encourage and support student involvement in nature-oriented environmental
activities in their communities
As a result of experiencing WildED, students will:
• Have knowledge of the
interconnectedness of the
natural world. Be aware of
their personal connection to
nature, parks and wilderness
and make personal lifestyle
choices to reflect this, e.g.
reducing their ecological
footprint
• Have an understanding of
climate change challenges
and solutions, as well as other
environmental issues
resulting from our
human/nature relationship
• Be prepared as future leaders,
scientists and decision-
makers to address challenges, and design solutions, to environmental issues
• Be inspired to take an active role within their community in protecting nature and wild
spaces, e.g. join a stewardship group or conservation organization or start an environment
club at their school.
• Be motivated to recreate in and explore diverse natural areas and park landscapes.
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9. Educational Program Offerings
“WildED will have a tremendous impact as today’s students mature and take what they have
learned and apply it to their lives and communities.” Grade 8 Teacher, North Vancouver
WildED delivers in-school and outdoor classroom programs, interpretive nature hikes, as
well as workshops for teachers. We also provide free online curriculum resources and support
for teachers.
WildED In-school Programs
In-school programs are designed to bring nature
into the classroom. Programs are curriculum-
linked for grades 4 - 12. WildEDucators engage
students with the spectacular images in our multi-
media slide shows, and with interactive games
and activities that reinforce learning outcomes.
Key learning themes include:
 Conservation and the Importance of
Parks, Wilderness, and Wildlife Areas
 Ecosystems and Landscapes
 Plants and Animals
WildED Outdoor Classroom Programs
Outdoor experiences provide a more in-depth
and memorable learning experience for
students beyond what a textbook can convey.
WildED's Outdoor Classroom programs move
the science classroom into nature where
students experience, explore, and learn first-
hand. We provide innovative outdoor, science-
based programs that are BC curriculum-linked
for students in grades 4 to 12. Outdoor
Classroom programs include:
EXPLORING THE NATURE OF OUR
CHANGING CLIMATE with WildED
Join WildED in the Outdoor Classroom, where we combine active exploration with up-to-date
scientific information to tell the story of our changing climate. This fun and hopeful program
emphasizes our human/nature connection and the potential for personal action to create solutions
for positive change.
GETTING TO KNOW OUR REGIONAL PARKS with WildED
What do salmon, wildlife, First Nations, rivers, drinking water, rainforests, wetlands, and
recreation all share in common? They are all part of the amazing story of our Regional Parks!
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10. Join WildED on an outdoor adventure as we experience the wonder and living lessons offered by
our Regional Parks, making personal connections to special places and diverse species.
THE PARKS EDUCATION OUTDOOR CLASSROOM AT MOUNT SEYMOUR
Experience WildED's school program based out of the Parks Heritage Centre in Mount Seymour
Provincial Park. WildEDucators lead interactive, educational sessions in the Parks Heritage
Centre and then take learning into the outdoor classroom on one of Mount Seymour's many
spectacular trails, where students actively explore and hike among majestic old-growth Douglas
Firs and Western Red Cedars.
WildED Interpretive Nature Hikes
WildED’s guided nature hikes are
designed to provide catalytic in-
nature experiences for students in
grades 4 – 12. Nature hikes take
place in various provincial and
regional parks within the Lower
Mainland. Students are given the
opportunity to actively explore and
learn about nature and parks first-
hand while also benefiting from the
opportunity to be outdoors and get
physically active. WildED Nature
Hike programs promote active,
healthy lifestyles for young people.
Key learning themes include:
 Appreciating Nature, Parks, and Wilderness
 Understanding Local Ecosystems
 Local Plants and Animals
 Stewardship and No Trace Skills
WildED Teacher Workshops and Online Curriculum Resources
WildED also conducts hands-on educational
workshops for teachers' conferences and
Pro-D days that provide a detailed overview
of our curriculum linked syllabus, as well as
a better understanding of how to go outdoors
with your students. Teachers are given the
opportunity to experience aspects of the
WildED program as a student. Depending
on the length of the workshop, the
presentation may include a slide
presentation, examples of learning games,
outdoor classroom activities, or a nature
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11. hike. The presenter will be one of WildED’s professional educators/wilderness explorer who
uses these activities to connect students with nature, to increase students’ understanding of wild
places, and to help students take action in preserving and conserving our wild places.
In addition, we provide free, downloadable curriculum-linked teaching resources via our website
and also offer support services that allow our program to be easily replicated and delivered
independently by teachers province-wide. The intention is to make WildED easily accessible to
those teachers who have an interest in integrating nature education into their classrooms as well
as to broaden our outreach.
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12. The WildEDucation Team…
Sherry Reid, WildED Program Director, is an environmental management
geographer with over 15 years experience managing education programs in the non-
profit sector. Sherry directs the day-to-day operation of WildED including
stakeholder and partner relations, project development, fundraising, promotion,
marketing and communications, and human resources management. Sherry has
successfully facilitated formal working relationships with regional and provincial
government agencies, as well as partnerships with business and community
organizations. Under Sherry’s direction WildED has grown to triple its capacity for
school program delivery and budget in the past six years, and has attained Green
Street Certification, a national certification standard recognized by teachers that
meets national benchmarks for excellence in environmental learning and sustainability education.
Sheena Careless, WildED Curriculum Development, is a certified teacher with a
Bachelor of Education from Queen’s University, and a Bachelor of Arts in
Geography/Environmental Studies. With experience in both formal and informal
education environments, Sheena has taught sustainability education programs here in
British Columbia for the Sea to Sky Outdoor School for Sustainability Education as
well as WildED for the last six years. More recently, Sheena has taken a lead role in
developing WildED program content, curriculum and teacher resources to ensure
continued integration into prescribed learning outcomes as required by the BC Ministry
of Education, in particular, within the context of the recently implemented
Environmental Learning and Experience Curriculum Guide.
Jason Wade, WildEDucator, has an Honours Degree in Environmental Studies
and Biology from York University. Upon graduating University, Jay traveled the
continent studying birds and mammals in such places as Alaska and the Yukon.
With a strong passion for teaching students about nature, he made the choice to
transition from a biological researcher to an environmental educator. Since then,
Jay has been delivering nature education programs for youth in various settings.
Jay is an experienced educator with over five years experience developing and
delivering outdoor education programs to students, youth-at-risk, and special
needs groups. He takes great pleasure in guiding students through quality
interactions with nature so they too may be inspired to find their own intrinsic
connection. Jay joined WildED 3 years ago where he has contributed immensely to the quality and breadth of
WildED outdoor programs. Prior to WildED, Jay worked as an Outdoor Education Specialist with the Toronto
District School Board and as a Senior Park Interpreter for Parks Canada in Point Pelee National Park. In his spare
time Jay can be found exploring BC’s wilderness. He is also an active community volunteer, contributing his time
and expertise to nature education programs that focus on working with youth at risk.
Allison Prime, WildEDucator, is a certified BC teacher and experienced
outdoor educator dedicated to using the outdoor classroom to foster self-
confidence in students, as well as a love for each other and the earth. She
migrated to the West Coast from Ontario where she spent her childhood
summers paddling on the lakes of Algonquin Park. Allison graduated with a
BA in International Development Studies from McGill University and
completed her teaching degree in the Outdoor Experiential and Ecological
Education program at Lakehead University in Thunder Bay. Since arriving on
the West Coast, Allison has focused on enabling students to make
connections between their choices and how they affect the ecological systems
that support life on this planet. In addition to her numerous volunteer pursuits working with young people,
Allison spends her free time singing, playing the guitar and exploring local forests.
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