Calgary, AB – August 29, 2016 – The Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society, Southern Alberta (CPAWS SAB) received the Canadian Network for Environmental Education and Communication (EECOM) award of excellence for Outstanding Non-Profit Organization for environmental education August 27.
Each year, EECOM recognizes outstanding individuals and organizations that have made significant contributions to environmental learning across Canada. This work is critical to ensure Canadians are environmentally literate, engage in environmental stewardship and contribute to a healthy, sustainable future.
Anne-Marie Syslak, Executive Director for the chapter is thrilled with this accomplishment.
“We are honoured to receive this prestigious national award. Connecting with and understanding the natural world is integral to foster appreciation and caring for the environment.”
Since 1997, CPAWS Southern Alberta has offered school programs for youth, workshops for adults and interpretive hikes in nature for grades 3 to 12. Their conservation programs focus on trees and forests, water, parks and wilderness, and species at risk like grizzly bears. Their unique programs combine classroom visits with outdoor learning and environmental stewardship. This has proven to be a successful model. In 2008, they won an Alberta Emerald Award for their efforts. Each year, CPAWS SAB delivers more than 300 programs to over 5000 participants. In 2015, they hit the landmark number of reaching more than 100,000 participants with environmental education programming.
“Our education programs focus on science, experience and stewardship” says Jaclyn Angotti, Education Director for CPAWS Southern Alberta. “Conservation becomes more meaningful with hands-on learning and we find that getting students outside brings learning alive for them.”
A key component to all the CPAWS programs is the Action Challenge where students or classrooms are invited to take a positive action to benefit the environment. CPAWS SAB celebrates action projects and gives out awards of excellence at the end of each school year.
“It’s inspiring to see when given the opportunity, how much youth care,” says Angotti.
“Receiving the EECOM award reflects the great efforts made by our incredible staff, volunteers and funders over the years who support environmental learning and understand the importance of building the next generation of environmental stewards in Canada,” says Syslak.
CPAWS provides educational programs for school groups, educators, community groups and new Canadians. For more information, visit CPAWS Environmental Education. To support environmental education, visit the CPAWS donation page.