A set of flexible classroom resources that inspires hope in students as they learn & design for a sustainable future
Wildsight is thrilled to partner with the Regional District of the Central Kootenay to offer the Future Makers program to 12 teachers in the region for free. Emails, letters, and posters were sent to all RDCK schools in Feb 2024.
SORRY – all FREE RCDK spots are full
Research has shown that some youth now don’t have the tools to imagine anything but an apocalyptic future for themselves.
Instead of messages of doom, FutureMakers provides students with the knowledge to create a thriving sustainable future. The decision-making power is put into students’ hands to inspire hope for their future and give them space to feel creative, resilient, and capable.
What resources are included?
- Video lessons – Lessons start with inspiring, informative videos that introduce 5 sustainable community design topics (food, waste, water, transportation, energy). Videos also showcase examples of new technology and inspiring solutions that lead the way to a sustainable future.
- Extension buffet – If you would like to take the learning a little deeper and have time to reinforce the concepts there is a “buffet” of easy-to-use extension activities, including hands-on activities, games, and outdoor learning opportunities.
- Student planning booklet – After each video lesson, teachers give students time to record their ideas in their planning booklet, and discuss. The booklet helps guiide students through the process of designing a sustainable community of the future, with room for student notes, drawings, and reflection.
- Build time – Students use the ideas from their planning booklet to plan and create their whole community design. Teachers define how students will build and present their project, which can be tailored to specific classroom resources and goals. Build options can include cardboard, Lego, Minecraft Education, or posters. Students design, build, and then share.
- Teacher Forum – At the bottom of each lesson page, check out the Teacher Forum where you can share your experiences and connect with other teachers utilizing the program
How long is the program?
Developed with flexibility in mind and minimal prep required, each lesson can take less than 30 minutes or you can choose to expand the learning with options from the “extension buffet”. FutureMakers schedule includes 7 video lessons plus build time (which is defined by the teacher). Participating RCDK Teachers gain free access to the FutureMakers program till June 30th, 2024.
How do I access the program resources?
All the program resources are located on the easy-to-use Future Makers website. Once logged in, getting started is as easy as clicking play on the video. Once the online registration form has been completed, RDCK teachers will receive an email with all the details to access the password-protected FutureMakers website.
What grades?
FutureMakers is designed for students in grades 4 through 7.
Why hope-based environmental education?
Research has shown that many of our youth don’t even have the tools to imagine anything but an apocalyptic future for themselves and the importance of hope, grounded in truth, in presenting complex environmental topics. Instead of starting with all of the shocking statistics, depressing facts, and stories of despair, FutureMakers helps students dream of a safe, clean, and thriving future, a future they are happy to see themselves as a part of. As psychologist Renee Lertzman argues, there is a delicate balance that must be considered between holding our conflicted feelings about the state of the future.
What schools are included in the RDCK?
Incorporated in 1965, the Regional District of Central Kootenay (RDCK) is a local government that serves an estimated population of 60,000 residents. Our region consists of 11 electoral areas (A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, J, K) and nine member municipalities: Castlegar, Creston, Kaslo, Nakusp, Nelson, New Denver, Salmo, Silverton, and Slocan.
What happens if the 12 RDCK spots fill up?
Additional spots may be made available. You will be notified via email after you complete the online registration form.
How much is this course valued at?
The FutureMakers online program is valued at $299. FutureMakers will be launched for sale to the public in Spring 2024 in partnership with the Outdoor Learning Store
SORRY – all FREE RCDK spots are full
When will I gain access to the program resources?
Please complete the registration form. Once you have completed the registration form you will be notified by email that your registration has been received. Please whitelist futuremakers@wildsight.ca to ensure our emails do not get sent to your junk mail. A FutureMakers webinar will be hosted for participating teachers in early Feb 2024. Watch your inbox for details. FutureMaker online resources will be available after the webinar. All participating CSRD teachers will be sent a recording of the launch webinar with details on how to access the program. FutureMakers program resources will be available for use till June 30th, 2024.
How was the FutureMakers program developed?
FutureMakers was developed based on the Beyond Recycling program that has spent over a decade developing environmental educational resources for youth. The Beyond Recycling program has many rave reviews for the year-long, educator-led deep dive into sustainability in the Columbia Basin region of BC. In 2021, over 90 Beyond Recycling teachers provided feedback to define the ideal environmental education resource. Our team of 12 professional environmental educators gathered to review teacher feedback and develop an impactful new series of independent BR teacher lesson resources. The aim was to develop easy-to-use resource for busy classroom teacher that helps students address their future with a perspective of hope. In 2022/23, 9 teachers piloted the new environmental education resources. Participating teachers utilized the program and shared their experience, and brilliant minds with us by providing feedback in exchange for a two-hundred-dollar honorarium.
Wildsight
Since 1987, Wildsight has been recognized as a leader in large-scale conservation, sustainable community initiatives, and environmental education. Wildsight is a registered charity. While our work focuses on the Kootenays, and has received recognition from the communities in which we work, we are renowned throughout the province and across Canada for our effective conservation and environmental education programs, excellence, and innovation in all that we do. At our heart, we are a grassroots organization, harnessing our power from the people whose lives affect and are affected by our work. We strive to inspire a conservation ethic in our children and in our communities so that the future leaders of tomorrow will be equipped to deal with the challenges of sustainability. Since 2001, Wildsight Education programs have connected over 90,000 kids with the natural world.
Does it link to the curriculum?
The FutureMakers program ties into the BC curriculum in many ways with direct links to science, social studies, applied skills, design, and technology. The BC curriculum’s ADST design guidelines are used as a base for the final culminating activity. The extension buffet also includes curriculum-connected activities as part of the program extensions (i.e. English Language Arts, Arts, Mathematics). Specific links to the curriculum will be included in future versions of the program.
SORRY – all FREE RCDK spots are full