Advanced Teacher Training
Join Ecosource and York University for a unique professional development opportunity for educators
This year’s program is now closed. Check back in 2027 or email teachered@ecosource.ca to be notified when the 2027 program opens.
Empower your teaching with Ecosource’s signature Advanced Teacher Training program – Approaches to Educating for a Sustainable and Just Future! This six-module series dives into sustainability education, environmental justice, and climate action—blending in-person and virtual learning for maximum impact.
With climate change affecting communities worldwide, climate education has never been more urgent. Through interactive sessions, you’ll learn from experts in the field, engage with a diverse community of educators, and hear a variety of perspectives on how to bring environmental learning into your teaching. Leave the program feeling inspired, connected, and equipped to take action in your learning community.
Join us and inspire student learning and action for a sustainable future!
How it works:
The program consists of a series of live, interactive learning sessions led by Ecosource educators and York University teaching partners. Educators who complete at least three of the six modules earn a certificate of completion from Ecosource and York University’s Faculty of Urban and Environmental Change. We require educators to attend at least one of the in-person sessions as part of certification to foster a community of practice.
Past Modules
The 2026 program ran between March and May and included the following modules:
Module 1: Food Systems and Food Literacy Learning Lab
Get hands-on with food—from field to fork—and discover how food systems connect to well-being, sustainability, and climate solutions.
Format/Location: In-Person, Ecosource Community Hub
Date: Saturday, March 28th, 2026 – 10am-2pm
Presenter: Ecosource
Module 2: Centering Indigenous Perspectives in the Classroom
Bring Truth & Reconciliation into your teaching in authentic and practical ways.
Format/Location: Virtual, Zoom
Date: Tuesday, May 12th, 2026 – 4:30-6:00pm
Presenter: Lisa Myers, Associate Professor, Faculty of Environmental and Urban Change, York University, Environmental Arts & Justice Program Coordinator, York Research Chair in Indigenous Art and Curatorial Practice
Module 3: Nature-Based Learning and Environmental Inquiry
Spark curiosity and environmental stewardship with engaging outdoor learning experiences.
Format/Location: In-Person, Claireville Conservation Area
Date: Saturday, April 25th, 2026 – 10am-2pm
Presenter: Toronto and Region Conservation Authority
Module 4: Climate Change Education Across the Curriculum
Make sustainability fit naturally into science, language, the arts, and more.
Format/Location: Virtual, Zoom
Date: Tuesday May 5th, 2026 – 4:30-6:00pm
Presenter: Learning for a Sustainable Future
Module 5: Pollinators and Habitats: Building Biodiversity in School Communities
Learn how to support pollinators and boost biodiversity in your schoolyard.
Format/Location: In-Person, The Riverwood Conservancy
Date: Wednesday May 20th, 2026 – 4:30-6:30pm
Presenter: The Riverwood Conservancy
Module 6: Gardening for the Curriculum
Dig into gardening and experience climate education in action at the Maloca Community Garden.
Format/Location: In-Person, York University and Maloca Community Garden
Date: Saturday, May 30th, 2026 – 10am-2pm
Presenter: Phyllis Novak, Director for Maloca Community and Native Plant Gardens Faculty of Environmental and Urban Change, York University
We are charging a small administrative fee of $20 for the program. This includes access to all six of this year’s modules. Refunds will be offered up to two weeks before the start of the program. Subsidies are available upon request. Please email teachered@ecosource.ca with your request.
Contact us
To learn more about the program, please email teachered@ecosource.ca with any questions you may have.
Please note that the Advanced Teacher Training program is intended for teachers. If you are not an in-service or pre-service teacher, please contact us at teachered@ecosource.ca to confirm that this program is right for you.
We thank TD Friends of the Environment Foundation for funding these educational opportunities for teachers in Ontario. Thank you to York University, our strategic partner, for collaboratively delivering this program.
