For Teachers
The Rideau Eco-Literacy Centre is expanding its educational programming to partner with schools across Eastern Ontario. We develop engaging, curriculum-connected workshops that bring environmental learning to life through hands-on, inquiry-based experiences.
Our programs are designed to complement classroom learning by connecting students with local ecosystems, scientific inquiry, and real-world environmental challenges. Through interactive investigations, outdoor exploration, and experiential learning opportunities, students develop a deeper understanding of the natural world and their role in protecting it.
Learning Beyond The Classroom
Environmental education provides meaningful opportunities for students to explore concepts through authentic, real-world experiences. Our workshops encourage students to ask questions, investigate their surroundings, and apply their learning to issues that impact their own communities.
By combining environmental knowledge with hands-on activities, students develop:
- curiosity and critical thinking skills
- scientific inquiry and problem-solving abilities
- connections to local environments and communities
- confidence in their ability to make positive environmental choices
Environmental education also supports emotional well-being by:
- engaging students in meaningful outdoor and nature-based learning experiences meant to reduce stress and promote calm
- encouraging mindfulness through exploration and slowing down to notice the world around us
- fostering a sense of belonging by helping students connect with their peers, community, and the natural world
- building resilience by embracing perseverance, and learning through trial and error
Our facilitators regularly see students leave workshops feeling happier, calmer, and more focused.
Curriculum-Connected Environmental Learning
Our workshops are designed to support the Ontario curriculum through interdisciplinary learning opportunities. Programs can connect with multiple subject areas, including:
Science & Technology
- ecosystems and biodiversity
- habitats and interrelationships
- human impacts on the environment
- scientific investigation and data collection
- observation, questioning, and inquiry skills
Social Studies & Geography
- local communities and land use
- sustainability and resource management
- connections between people, places, and environments
- Indigenous perspectives and relationships with the land
- understanding local and global environmental issues
Mathematics
- collecting and analyzing environmental data
- measurement and observation
- representing findings through graphs and models
- applying mathematical thinking to real-world environmental problems
- using estimation, spatial reasoning, and problem-solving skills in outdoor contexts
Language
- communicating scientific ideas
- inquiry and reflection
- developing environmental vocabulary
- developing arguments and perspectives related to environmental issues
The Arts
- observing and representing the natural world through visual media
- communicating ideas and perspectives through creative work
- exploring patterns, structures, and stories found in nature
Looking to bring environmental learning into your classroom this year? Find resources suited to your needs here:
Teacher Resource Hub (coming soon!)