PROMOTIONAL FEATURE
“ORGANIZATIONS HAVE FOUND THAT USING ECO LEARNING HIVE IS A GREAT WAY TO GET THE WORD OUT ABOUT WHAT THEY DO.” VITAL SIGN: ENVIRONMENT
Engaging youth with their world The South Island is rich with environmental learning opportunities. However, with no central network bringing them all together, audiences were being separated and organizations were missing opportunities to partner.
budget, while parents can find programs to keep their children engaged over the summer. Local environmental educators can add themselves, their programs, and their events to the site.
CONNECTING EDUCATORS WITH AUDIENCES World Fisheries Trust, a Victoria-based nonprofit organization that works both locally and internationally, has a local focus on supporting hands-on environmental education. In 2009, along with SeaChange Marine Conservation Society, Habitat Acquisition Trust, and Seaquaria in the Schools, they recognized the need for that central educational resource. In 2010, with support and funding from the Victoria Foundation and leadership from World Fisheries Trust, the group established Eco Learning Hive, a network of over 25 local environmental educators providing information on over 40 programs.
A SPIRIT OF COLLABORATION “Organizations have found that using Eco Learning Hive is a great way to get the word out about what they do,” says Lindsay Cerilli, office manager and projects assistant at World Fisheries Trust. “It’s also creating a spirit of collaboration among the organizations. Instead of competing for the same funding and resources, they’re showcasing the differences between their programs and the niche markets they’ve carved out.” Joachim and Cathy Carolsfeld, Word Fisheries Trust founders, see this network approach as valuable.
Teachers, the main users of the portal, can find field trips that fit their curriculum and
Going forward, Eco Learning Hive hopes to create an even more robust and searchable site, making environmental education on the South Island synergistic and accessible.
Help the Victoria Foundation give Victoria its annual check-up! Take the Vital Signs Survey at: victoriafoundation.ca
Visit the Eco Learning Hive website for a complete list of current environmental education opportunities: ecolearninghive.org
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