Outdoor Education
York Region offers outdoor education programs for clubs, community groups and schools to connect people with nature and inspire action.
Envirothon
Markville Secondary School in the City of Markham placed first in York Regional Envirothon and moved on to compete in the 2025 Ontario Envirothon competition May 25 to 28 at the University of Waterloo. This team, one of 17 to participate, came in third place. Well done and congratulations!
If you’re interested in participating in the 2026 York Region Envirothon follow us on social @YorkRegionGovt on Facebook, X and Instagram for details.
What is York Region Envirothon?
York Region Envirothon is an interactive, hands-on, outdoor environmental education program for youth in grades 9 to 12 and is part of Ontario Envirothon (led by Forests Canada) and Envirothon (led by the National Conservation Foundation).
Free Study Guides and Webinars – Great for any Classroom
Study Guides and webinars are available to help prepare students for York Region Envirothon and Ontario Envirothon. They can also be used by teachers for high school lessons to introduce key ecological concepts like soil profiles, wildlife identification, forest management and water quality assessment.
Partners
The York Region Envirothon is held in partnership with Forests Canada - Ontario Envirothon, Lake Simcoe Region Conservation Authority, Toronto and Region Conservation Authority, Oak Ridges Moraine Land Trust, the York Region District School Board and the York Catholic District School Board.
Resources
- Trees Are Good: Education Resources for Teachers and Leaders
Forest Walks and Events
Joining a guided walk or participating in an event is a great way to learn about the Forest. Or if you would like to explore the Forest on your own, download some Nature Activities. Learn more at york.ca/ForestEvents
Tree Bee
Teachers and parents of students in Grades 4 to 6 and community groups and libraires who offer programing to youth ages 9 to 12 are invited to participate in the 2025 York Region Tree Bee.
Get kids excited about the environment as they learn how to identify trees and test their tree knowledge against other teams in a weeklong virtual competition. Registrants will have access to Forests Canada’s webpage, The Hive, which will house a Teacher/Coach guide, lesson plans, activity sheets and practice tests.
The first-place team will win bragging rights, a plaque and some fun prizes!
There is no cost to participate
The virtual competition will be held on Monday, November 24 to Sunday November 30, 2025
Teams must be made up of a minimum of two participants to a maximum of 35
Participants must either live in York Region, or belong to a school, community group or club located in York Region
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is eligible to participate in the York Region Tree Bee?
Students in Grades 4, 5 and 6 (ages 9 to 12) are eligible to participate in the York Region Tree Bee. Participants must either live in York Region, or belong to a school, community group or club located in York Region.
Why should I register my class for Tree Bee?
Tree Bee is a free, interdisciplinary program that can enrich any subject! Whether you are teaching history, math, music, science or even physical education, our Tree Bee resources can help you to engage your students in impactful, place-based learning while meeting Ontario curriculum expectations.
Is there a registration deadline?
Yes! In order to participate in the testing component of the York Region Tree Bee, groups must register no later than 2 p.m. (ET) on November 19, 2025. If you wish to receive Tree Bee resource materials after this deadline, please email Forests Canada at @email
How many people can participate per class or organization?
Teams must be made up of a minimum of two participants to a maximum of 35. Team breakdown is at the discretion of the Tree Bee Teacher/Coach. In the event of multiple teams per class/group, one test per team will be accepted, up to a maximum of five tests per group. The class/group’s overall score will be determined by test average.
When and where will the York Region Tree Bee be held?
The York Region Tree Bee test will be accessible via Google Forms starting at 9 a.m. (ET) on November 24, 2025 and close at 9 p.m. (ET) on November 30. If your group requires a Word version of the test, please connect with Forests Canada for more details. It is estimated the test will take, on average, between 60 to 90 minutes to complete.
Are participants allowed to use resource materials when completing the Tree Bee test?
Yes, participants may complete the Tree Bee test with the aid of resource materials.
How can my class or group prepare for the York Region Tree Bee competition?
Your group is encouraged to prepare for the York Region Tree Bee using a provided Tree Bee Resource kit, online tools and practice tests. Resources will be shared following registration and through the Tree Bee home page The Hive. You are encouraged to share your groups preparation journey on social media using the hashtag #TreeBee2025.
How is the winning team determined?
While Tree Bee is a friendly competition focused on connecting youth with trees and forests, we want to celebrate participants who excel. As such the winning team is determined using testing scores. For groups with multiple teams score will be determined by test average.
When and how will the winner be announced?
The winner of the York Region Tree Bee will be announced on December 10, 2025 on York Region and Forests Canada’s social media channels. Teams receiving a prize pack will also be contacted via email to confirm shipping details.
What does the winning team receive?
The first-place team will have their school or group name engraved on the Tree Bee plaque alongside past winners and will get to display the plaque at their organization for the remainder of the school year. The winners will also receive a prize pack including a $150 gift card.
What do the runner-up teams receive?
Second and third placed teams will receive a digital certificate and fun environmental themed prizes from York Region. Additionally, the second place team will receive a $100 gift card and the third place team will receive a $50 gift card.
What happens if there is a tie?
In the event of a tie for first, second or third place, teams will be entered into a draw for one of three prize packs. Prize packs are prepared for a maximum of 35 people per class or group.
Does every team who participates receive something?
Yes, all participants will receive a digital participant certificate.
I still have questions, who can I contact for more information?
Please connect with Forests Canada at @email for additional information.
Volunteer Stewardship Opportunities
York Region partners with Ontario Streams to support the restoration of forest cover and habitats around local streams. Community and school groups can participate in activities like:
- Tree and shrub planting
- Litter clean-up
- Classroom visits (upon request)
Volunteer hours count toward the Ministry of Education’s secondary school community service requirements.
Ontario Streams provides:
- Planting and restoration guidance
- Trees, shrubs, gloves and shovels
- On-site safety instructions for working near roads, water and uneven ground
Group responsibilities:
- Wear weather-appropriate clothing and footwear
- Group leaders are responsible for participant organization and safety standards
Cost
This program is free. If transportation is required for community or school groups, York Region may subsidize the cost, provided it’s noted in the comment section of Ontario Streams' online application form.
Registration
Planting takes place during the following seasons:
- Spring: April to June
- Fall: September to October
For more information and to register, visit Ontario Streams – Community Group Tree Planting Opportunities
Bill Fisch Forest Stewardship and Education Centre
The Bill Fisch Forest Stewardship and Education Centre located in Hollidge Tract in the Town of Whitchurch-Stouffville, was built in 2016 and is Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED®) Platinum certified.
In 2018, the Bill Fisch Forest Stewardship and Education Centre became the first building in Canada and twenty-first worldwide, to achieve Living Certified status through the International Living Future Institute program – the Living Building Challenge. This program is made up of seven performance areas: site, water, energy, health, materials, equity and beauty. Some of the innovative features of the building include:
- All wood construction including cross-laminated timbers
- All new wood material used in the building is Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certified
- Using solar panels, LED light fixtures, heat pumps, radiant heating and triple-glazed windows, the building will generate more energy than it uses
- The building’s canopy gathers rainwater and snow melt to service bathroom facilities
- All the water used comes from the site and is treated and discharged on-site, resulting in net-zero water use
- Much of the building materials were sourced from local manufacturers to reduce carbon emissions
Related Resources
- City of Richmond Hill's Lake Wilcox Park — Self-guided Tree Tour
- Forests Canada - Focus on Forests Program for Teachers
- ID Your Trees at Treebee.ca
- Lake Simcoe Region Conservation Authority - Conservation Education for Teachers
- Local city or town parks and recreational programs
- Trees Are Good Education Resources for Teachers
Tree Canada – Greening Canada’s School Grounds
