Outdoor Education

Residents walking through the York Regional Forest

York Region offers outdoor education programs for clubs, community groups and schools to connect people with nature and inspire action.

Envirothon

Milliken Mills High School in the City of Markham placed first in York Regional Envirothon and moved on to compete in the 2026 Ontario Envirothon competition May 24 to 27 at the University of Waterloo. This team, one of 12 to participate, came in third place. Well done and congratulations!

Milliken Mills High School in the City of Markham placed third in the 2026 Ontario Envirothon competition

If you’re interested in participating in the 2027 York Region Envirothon follow us on social @YorkRegionGovt on Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn 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, 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

green background with words saying What's All The Buzz About Trees?

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 2026 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.

Register now.

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 23 to Sunday November 29, 2026
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

What is the York Region Tree Bee?
"The York Region Tree Bee is a free, interdisciplinary program that can enrich any subject! From history, math, music, science, physical education and beyond Tree Bee can help to engage students in environmental learning while meeting Ontario curriculum expectations. Students will use provided learning materials and tools to grow their knowledge and are encouraged to participate in a friendly virtual competition against their peers.

Who is eligible to participate in the York Region Tree Bee?
Students in Grades 4, 5 & 6 (ages 9 to 12) are eligible to participate in the York Region Tree Bee. Participants must either live in, or belong to a school, community group or club located in York Region.

How do I register my class or group for the York Region Tree Bee?
Registration for the York Region Tree Bee will open September 14, 2026, visit york.ca/TreeBee to secure your spot! Once registered, educators will be provided with virtual resources.

Is there a registration deadline?
Yes! Groups must register no later than 2:00 pm (ET) on November 18, 2026. If you wish to receive Tree Bee resource materials after this deadline, please email @email.

How many people can participate per class or organization?
York Region Tee Bee tests must be completed by minimum of two participants per team, up to a maximum of 35, team breakdown is at the discretion of the registrant. If you are interested in participating but your group is larger than 35 students, please email [email protected]

When and where will the York Region Tree Bee be held?
The York Region Tree Bee test will be hosted online though Google Forms starting at 9 a.m. (ET) on November 23, 2026 and close at 9 p.m. (ET) on November 29. If your group requires a Word version of the test, please email [email protected]. It is estimated the test will take an average of 60 minutes to complete.

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 #TreeBee2026.

Are participants allowed to use resource materials when completing the York Region Tree Bee test?
Yes, participants may complete the Tree Bee test with the aid of resource materials.

How is the winning team determined?
The winning York Region team is determined using testing scores. For registrants with multiple teams, score will be determined by the average of submitted tests, up to seven tests per class/group.

When will the winner be announced?
The winner of the York Region Tree Bee will be announced the beginning of December 2026 on York Region and Forests Canada 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 York Region Tree Bee plaque alongside past winners and will get to display the plaque 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.

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