Hands-on Environmental Science Education for Grade 7 Students

Grade 7 students in the Cariboo-Chilcotin region received hands-on environmental science education through the annual Earth Challenge at Scout Island in April. The comprehensive education program covered various topics, including water, ecosystems, air, waste, invasive species, and climate change. The program included five days of lessons at Scout Island, culminating in a full-day educational event at Columneetza secondary school featuring a Jeopardy-style quiz.

Key Takeaways:

Jenny Howell, executive director of the Cariboo-Chilcotin Conservation Society (CCCS), led water education and partnered with the City of Williams Lake for tours of the pump stations at Scout Island, where students learned about the city's water supply and the prevention of environmental contamination.
Students used chemistry tests on the Williams Lake River to learn how human activity can affect water quality and the ecosystem.
Martin Kruus, education coordinator at Scout Island Nature Centre, led the ecosystems lesson, which included a "run around" outdoor quiz at Columneetza secondary school, focusing on the six regional ecosystems and animal and plant adaptations.
For air education, students learned about indoor and outdoor air quality, human and non-human influences on air quality, and how to check the Air Quality Health Index and PurpleAir monitors online.
Alex Mutch, coordinator for the Invasive Species Council of B.C., taught students about invasive plants and animals, including weeds, domestic pets, and the Don't Let it Loose program.
Students also learned about waste management, including trash diversion, organics composting, and electronics recycling.
Climate change instructor Ben Tudor provided separate lessons and activities, focusing on building a scientific understanding of climate change impacts and brainstorming solutions, such as reducing energy consumption and waste.

Statistics:

The Earth Challenge program covered various topics over five days of lessons at Scout Island (no specific statistics mentioned)
The program culminated in a full-day educational event at Columneetza secondary school featuring a Jeopardy-style quiz (no specific statistics mentioned)
Students participated in 18 stations to identify adaptations, species, or features of animals and plants (no specific statistics mentioned)
The visit to the Electronics Recycling Depot, Petro Canada Bulk Plant for Oil and Antifreeze Collection, and the Potato House Project to discuss food waste and growing food from compost was included in the waste education session (no specific statistics mentioned)

Sources:

Jenny Howell, executive director of the Cariboo-Chilcotin Conservation Society (CCCS)
Jenny Howell, executive director of the CCCS
Jenny Howell's quote: "Having the opportunity to meet city staff and ask questions adds so much depth to the lesson as it goes from abstract concepts on a poster in the classroom to 'real' and they see how much effort, science and money is involved with delivering safe water to people's homes."
Martin Kruus, education coordinator at Scout Island Nature Centre
Martin Kruus's quote: "The wild onions are usually a favourite."
Alex Mutch, coordinator for the Invasive Species Council of B.C.
Alex Mutch's quote: "ISCBC covered a range of topics and programs regarding invasive species such as weeds and how to be PlantWise; domestic pets that can become invasive once released, such as goldfish, red ear sliders, and European rabbits and our Don't Let it Loose program to discourage further spread."
Ben Tudor, climate change instructor
Ben Tudor's quote: "Often, big world issues like climate change can seem very confusing or far away, so our classes were all about figuring out the nuts and bolts - understanding the carbon cycle, how greenhouse gases warm up the planet, and digging into our daily practices to figure out what it is humans are doing that leads to this problem."
Erin Hitchcock, Air Aware educator with Scout Island Nature Centre
Williams Lake Tribune (2025)