CEC Grant Request Details and Summary
Narrative regarding the nature, goals, and benefits of the CEC Soil Science in Schools program to View Royal.
Details of Your Organization’s Grant Request
Nature and goals of the project, program or event: For more than 30 years, our Child & Youth education team has delivered our beloved series of hands-on interactive workshops in schools, daycares, community centres, public events, and at the CEC's demonstration site. We have a catalogue of 24 bookable workshops which are all designed to ensure that students are an active part of the learning process They cover topics like composting, soil heath, seeds, citizen science, and pollinator conservation. These hands-on learning experiences model sustainable lifestyle and climate resiliency practices in action. They make students and educators alike feel empowered to step into their environmental stewardship responsibilities. Funding from Town of View Royal would allow us to grow our capacity to reach View Royal residents by: 1) an increased number of workshop participants from View Royal, 2) the development of up-to-date educational materials, 3) our attendance at a variety of community events, and 4) communication efforts to increase teacher awareness of our offerings.
Summary of direct and indirect benefits to the Town of View Royal: Participants in our Child & Youth program activities benefit by increasing their knowledge and inquiry around composting, waste diversion, ecological stewardship, and local food systems. Educators and students also benefit from having many engaging and sensory opportunities and meet the requirements outlined by the BC Curriculum. The outcomes of these hands-on learning experiences are that they allow View Royal schools and learning communities to process their own food waste, return organic matter to the soil right under their feet, and increase their awareness of all the non-human life that also calls View Royal home. These outcomes directly connect to and support Town of View Royal's low carbon vision of reducing waste. Additionally, our team of CEC educators travels to all schools and learning centres in the CRD at no extra cost to them. This approach helps eliminate the barrier of rising transportation costs, which feedback from teachers in View Royal informs us that this great influences their ability to participate in unique learning experiences.