Wetlands Education Program
Become a Wetland Steward in Your Community
In 1996, the B.C. Wildlife Federation launched the Wetlands Education Program (WEP) in response to the rapid loss of wetlands across British Columbia. The program was created to raise awareness, foster stewardship, and equip British Columbians with the knowledge and tools to protect these vital ecosystems.
Each year, WEP supports the restoration, enhancement, and conservation of wetlands across B.C. by working directly with communities to offer accessible, hands-on training opportunities. Our annual in-person workshops include:
- Map Our Marshes, which teaches participants how to identify, map, and report wetland habitats
- Wetlandkeepers, a hands-on workshop that introduces the basics of wetland classification, stewardship, and monitoring
- Wetlands Institute, an intensive, week-long training for those looking to lead or support wetland conservation projects in their communities
We also offer virtual education throughout the year via webinars that explore topics such as wetland ecology, restoration techniques, and species at risk.
WEP is grateful to collaborate with BCWF clubs and members, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), local community groups, naturalist clubs, First Nations communities, and others to deliver inclusive, place-based education. With continued support and shared commitment, we aim to help communities across the province protect these valuable ecosystems—so they can be enjoyed by both wildlife and people for generations to come.
Programs & Workshops
Map Our Marshes
If you’re new to the world of wetlands, this one-day introductory course is a great way to learn about wetlands and their importance on the landscape, and meet others passionate about the local environment. Participants will learn about wetland stewardship, including smartphone apps that can be used to enhance conservation of these important ecosystems.
Wetlandkeepers
Wetlandkeepers is a 2.5 day workshop that educates participants about wetland conservation. We bring this course into communities to teach wetland delineation, plant and animal identification, soil sampling, and other wetland classification and stewardship skills. Each workshop varies to suit the community’s unique wetland needs.
Wetlands Institute
The Wetlands Institute is a week-long boot camp for people with a watershed project they want to pursue in their community. The BCWF offers this course, valued at over $1,000, for free to qualified applicants from B.C. Our experts offer hands-on training in planning, design, and restoration work to facilitate the recovery and enhancement of wetlands throughout the project. Each year, a different host community is chosen for the workshop and the program is tailored to feature local restoration sites, experts, and First Nations communities.
Virtual Education
The B.C. Wildlife Federation’s Wetlands Education Program offers virtual learning through webinars like the Wetlands Institute: Virtual Speaker Series. These sessions explore why wetlands matter and cover topics like conservation, restoration, and the wildlife that depend on these ecosystems. Led by experts, the webinars help people better understand and care for wetlands.
You can watch past sessions and learn more at here.
Upcoming Workshops
We typically announce the location and dates of or workshops in the spring/summer. Check to see if we’re coming to a community near you this year!
Wetland Restoration
Are you interested in getting involved with wetland habitat restoration? In recent years, we have increased our input for wetland restoration and we have continued to host wetland restoration/construction workshops or related events to improve wetland habitat in B.C.
We are always on the lookout on how we can support partners and British Columbians in accomplishing wetland restoration that benefits wildlife and supports healthy communities.
Wetlands Education Program Blogs
Building Wetland Stewardship Skills in Victoria B.C.
This July, the B.C. Wildlife Federation’s Wetland Education Program (WEP) facilitated a 2.5‑day Wetlandkeepers workshop in Victoria, B.C., in partnership with the Bilston Watershed Habitat Protection Association and Swan Lake Nature Sanctuary at Swan Lake Christmas Hill Nature Sanctuary—a living classroom rich with native plants, visiting and resident birds, and even a Western Painted Turtle.…
Kicking Off 2025 with Hands on Restoration and Training in the South Okanagan
The South Okanagan is one of the driest regions in British Columbia, yet it’s full of life. Alongside vibrant vineyards, sparkling lakes, and rolling grasslands, the region is home to an incredible diversity of fish and wildlife that flourish where water flows. From the smallest stream to the quietest wetland to the broadest lake, these…
Get to Know the 5 Freshwater Wetland Classifications!
From mossy bogs and spongy fens to forested swamps and vibrant marshes, wetlands are among the most ecologically rich ecosystems on the planet. Each type plays a unique role in supporting biodiversity, filtering water, storing carbon, and helping to reduce the impacts of floods and drought. Wetlands support an incredible variety of life. Often…
Wetlands Institute — Virtual Speaker Series 2025
The B.C. Wildlife Federation’s Wetland Education Program is returning this February for the Wetlands Institute: Virtual Speaker Series! Join us and some amazing speakers to discover new and emerging research in wetlands. See below for details of each webinar. Thank you to our funders for making these webinars possible:
Keeping up with the Wetlands — A Summer of Wetland Exploration
With fall weather in full swing, it’s time to look back on some of the educational workshops the BCWF’s Wetlands Education Program (WEP) ran this summer! From exploring fens and marshes, to swamps and other wetlands, the WEP team connected with passionate individuals and local projects across coastal B.C. To kick off our summer season,…
Wetlands Institute in Creston & Salmo — 2024
This September, the B.C. Wildlife Federation held its 22nd annual Wetlands Institute in Creston and Salmo, B.C., on the traditional and unceded territories of the Ktunaxa and Sinixt Nations. Since its inception in 2002, the Wetlands Institute—an immersive, educational wetland conservation program—has brought together ecological professionals and environmental stewards from across British Columbia to learn…
nʔaʕx̌ʷt (Ginty’s Pond) — The Power of Partnerships
As much as 85% of wetlands have been lost in the Okanagan and Similkameen region. Given the heavy dependency on water conservation in farming communities like Cawston, BC—known as the Organic Capital of Canada—the opportunity to restore Ginty’s Pond (nʔaʕx̌ʷt) back to an open water wetland was a clear choice for Josie Symonds, a senior…
City of Vancouver Staff Plunge Into the Wetlands Institute
Members of the City of Vancouver’s engineering department will spend the next several years building and rehabilitating urban wetlands in the Still Creek Watershed, using skills they acquired from a Wetlands Institute workshop last year. Sophie Warren and Julie McManus collaborate with the City of Vancouver Parks Board on improving stormwater management and on rainwater…
Collaborations Yield a Healthier Landscape
Living off the land is fundamental to rural and First Nations communities. Caring for the land is essential to the traditions and practices that encompass hunting, fishing, and foraging. The B.C. Wildlife Federation and Indigenous communities have made considerable progress toward a shared vision of maintaining healthy fish and wildlife populations. By weaving Indigenous values…
Wetlands Institute — 2023 Recap
For over two decades, the B.C. Wildlife Federation’s Wetlands Institute has been essential in empowering participants with the skills necessary to lead watershed projects across BC. In 2023, the Wetlands Institute, facilitated by the BCWF’s Wetlands Education Program, provided a lively foundation for the exchange of knowledge among industry professionals and participants, alike. Held in…
Mapping Our Marshes with the Wetlands Education Program — 2023
The Wetlands Education Program (WEP) runs several workshops throughout the year in order to engage and educate interested participants about wetlands. One of these programs is Map our Marshes (MoM). This is a 1.5 day workshop that focuses on entry-level technical and field skills for mapping smaller wetlands using free software, GPS, and your smartphone!…
The Wetlands Institute Inspires Ongoing Backyard Restoration Efforts
As the B.C. Wildlife Federation prepares for its upcoming 2023 Wetlands Institute, we are inspired to look back on the transformative journeys of past participants. Among them is the heartwarming story of Susan DeBeck, who attended the program in 2021. While many come to the Institute with backgrounds in environmental science, Susan stands out as…
BCWF Celebrates 20 Years of the Wetlands Institute — 2022
This year marked the 20th annual Wetlands Institute – a world-class, immersive watershed restoration training for British Columbians. Since 2002, this program has engaged British Columbian ecological professionals in restoration techniques, impacting a variety of wetlands across the province in multi-phase and continual projects. From September 19 to 25th, participants from across the province joined…
Wetlands, Knowledge, and Community — 2022 Wetlandkeepers Workshops on Stó:lō and Ktunaxa Territories
Throughout the spring and summer, the Wetlands Education Program partnered with the Stó:lō Research and Resource Management Centre, Chawathil First Nation, ʔaq’am First Nation, and members of the Ktunaxa Nation to deliver two Wetlandkeepers workshops rooted in place-based learning and cultural exchange. As with all Wetlandkeepers workshops, the sessions began with classroom instruction on wetland…
Wetlandkeepers 2022 — The Kootenays
From June 1st to 12th, the Wetlands Education Program (WEP) team ventured to the Kootenays for the first Wetlandkeepers workshops of the summer. The focus of these workshops was to provide participants with a working knowledge of wetlands and to understand their undeniable value. Our first stop on the trip was in Slocan, B.C, where the Slocan…
BCWF Watershed Team 