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Sustainability and Environmental Education: What are the links and why are they important? (CTF Report)

Winston Carter
February 2007

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We know that having a sustainable future relies on teaching today’s youth about ecological processes and  our  interactions with  the  environment.  We want young  people to become environmental stewards and we want such action to be grounded in sound knowledge.

CTF supports this approach and hosts Green Street, a program that provides opportunities to actively engage students and teachers in environmental learning and sustainability education. The initiative links schools in Canada  to  reputable environmental  education  organizations  across the country. It delivers credible, accessible, and affordable programs that are relevant to students’ concerns and  are  linked  to  curriculum. These programs encourage a sense of personal responsibility for the environment, foster a commitment to sustainable living, and promote an enduring dedication to environmental stewardship.

Green Street has become a standard of excellence for  high-quality environmental education programs. Each qualified Green Street program is subjected to a rigorous standards test based on benchmarks that have been developed for excellence  in  environmental  learning  and  sustainability (ELS). The standards fall into three main categories: themes; goals and objectives of environmental learning and  sustainability; and the actual pedagogy or practice of ELS. A  program that meets all or most of these standards receives the  Green Street Seal of Excellence and is considered worthy of meeting the needs of teachers and students. This year, Green Street is subsidiz- ing 2,400 classroom or school-based  programs across the country. In Ontario, 20 programs are being offered, including:

  • Green Kids Inc., an environmental education theatre performance for elementary schools. Three actors create environmental awareness in a fun and engaging manner, linking environmental issues to the daily lives of children.
  • Earth Day Canada’s EcoKids, a national program for K to grade 9 students that empowers youth with knowledge and hands-on activities to increase their awareness and encourage their community involvement. Curriculum links are to language, math, practical and applied arts, science, social studies, and geography.
  • Evergreen offers the School Ground Greening program at the elementary level. Students and teachers can transform their barren school grounds into natural environments using native species of trees, shrubs and heritage berries and vegetables.
  • Trout Unlimited offers Yellow Fish Road, a hands-on environmental project for youth to help decrease water pollution in their community. The program includes painting yellow fish symbols next to storm drains and the distribution of fish-shaped brochures to nearby households.

CTF  encourages  teachers  and  students  to become part of this nationwide community of practice called  Green Street. The resources and programs  are  fun,  engaging,  and  effective  in fostering appreciation for the  many values and perspectives surrounding environmental issues and solutions.

Take  a  virtual  stroll  down  Green  Street  at green-street.ca and discover how today’s youth can become  engaged citizens in our  collective sustainable future.

 

Note:  Green  Street  is  funded  by  the  J.  W. McConnell Family Foundation, a private family foundation that funds initiatives of national significance as well as major projects in the arts and in environmental education.