Local Education Charity Wins Big National Award
By Contributor
The Columbia Basin Environmental Education Network (CBEEN) was awarded the highest prize for an organization of its type at the national environmental education awards ceremony last weekend in Victoria.
CBEEN was named ‘Outstanding Environmental Education Membership Organization’ by the Canadian Network for Environmental Education and Communication (EECOM) at its national conference.
Celebrating 10 years of service, CBEEN was established with the aim of building a community of engaged and effective educators by connecting them with the best resources, information, delivery and networking opportunities available.
CBEEN’s Executive Director, Duncan Whittick, who accepted the award on the organization’s behalf, said “I believe this award is a testament to the incredible efforts put forward by countless volunteers, staff, partners, funders and members over the past decade.
“I also think it is a wonderful launching pad for CBEEN to become an even stronger umbrella network that plays a role in strengthening environmental education for all residents of the Columbia Basin.”
Incorporated as a non-profit in 2003, CBEEN has since grown from a small group of passionate educators to a vibrant network of more than 400 educators from across the Columbia Basin and beyond. Currently CBEEN is the only organization acting as an umbrella network for environmental education across the Canadian Columbia Basin; a region internationally recognized for its biodiversity values.
Over the past decade CBEEN has coordinated numerous professional development opportunities for educators such as their popular Voices for Sustainability Symposium.
CBEEN also proved its ability to coordinate larger events, hosting Dr. Jane Goodall on her debut visit to the Kootenays last fall. Since taking over the Wild Voices for Kids program in 2009,
CBEEN has made it possible for over 40,000 students to take part field trips and presentations across the region’s six School Districts.
To capitalize on this momentum, CBEEN is also working in partnership with its national counterpart, EECOM, to host a Leadership Clinic in the Kootenays in the spring of 2014.
It has also put forward its intention to bid to host the 2017 National Annual Environmental Education Conference, which would bring hundreds of practitioners and researchers to the region.
If you would like to learn more about CBEEN you are invited to attend an Environmental Education Showcase at the Radium Resort from 3 – 5 p.m. on Friday, September 20.
To find out more please visit www.cbeen.org.
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