--- Écoles écocitoyennes de l'Outaouais program returns virtually to schools

Jordan Gowling

Enviro Éduc-Action announced the virtual return of its Écoles écocitoyennes de l’Outaouais program to several schools in the region, September 1. The program has operated since 2013 and currently works with 15 elementary schools, high schools and adult education centres in the Outaouais. The purpose of the program is to help schools improve their environmental records and to teach environmental leadership skills to students over a two-year period. The program provides a variety of resources including counselling sessions, workshops, training and guides, according to Noémie Bussières, coordinator for the program. 

Most of their resources transitioned to video this year. The program has produced a number of educational videos for school staff and has provided new online awareness tools to help teachers continue to include environmental education in the school curriculum, according to Bussières. 

Bussières says virtual tools can be convenient but the program loses the human interaction that is important to the learning process. She says it has also been a challenge to convene student committees for the program, when physical distancing measures remain in place for all participating schools. Despite the current challenges that face educational institutions, Enviro Éduc-Action remains optimistic that schools will reach the program’s objective of developing important environmental projects.

Bussières notes that spaces are still available for schools to sign up for the program’s next cohort, which will take place during the 2020-2022 school years. Schools can visit their website at https://ecoles-eco.ca/le-programme/inscription/.

[Local Journalism Initiative]