BCWF Wetlands Institute — Take Your Wetland Stewardship Skills to the Next Level
The Wetlands Institute is a week-long boot camp for individuals with a wetland or watershed project they want to pursue in their community. The BCWF offers this course—valued at over $1,000—free of charge to qualified applicants from B.C. (those outside of B.C. may apply for a fee).
Our experts provide hands-on training in planning, design, and restoration to support the recovery and enhancement of wetlands. Each year, a different host community is selected, and the program is tailored to highlight local restoration sites, experts, and First Nations communities. We focus on localized, grassroots sessions and skills that can be applied to a wide range of wetland projects across B.C. Each Institute features a unique set of guest speakers, presenters, and training sessions based on the region and its restoration priorities.
Workshop Information
The Wetlands Institute is facilitated annually over a 7-day period in the fall (September-October). This hands-on workshop teaches practical field skills in wetland stewardship, restoration, and construction, including but not limited to:
- Up-to-date field techniques
- Integrating Indigenous Knowledge into your project
- Inventorying wetlands data
- Wetland mapping
- Soil sampling
- Restoring or enhancing wetland sites
- Invasive species identification and management
During the workshop, participants receive guidance from knowledgeable experts and hands-on training to help them successfully implement wetland projects in their communities. Upon completion, participants are eligible to receive a certificate of completion—many have used this toward continuing education credits for professional designations.
Eligibility to Apply
If you have a wetland project in mind—or the passion to start one—the Wetlands Institute is a great place to begin. To apply, you’ll need to share details about a project or program you’re working on, planning to implement in your community, or show strong interest in developing one in the future. This workshop is designed for a wide range of participants, including consultants, community planners, environmental and conservation groups, First Nations technicians and guardians, government representatives, landowners, and biologists or environmental scientists. Whether you’re just starting out or looking to deepen your skills, the Institute offers the tools and support to help turn your ideas into action.
We typically announce the location and dates of the Wetlands Institute in the spring, and registration opens in the summer. Space is limited to 25 participants, and applications are reviewed on a rolling basis—early application is encouraged!
Wetlands Institute Testimonials
Loved it! Thank you – it was very inspiring and pulled some puzzle pieces together for me and also helped me to move forward on next steps for planning my wetland project.
— Wetlands Institute Participant, 2024
We’re in early stages of a potential wetland project. Prior to the Institute, I didn’t know where to start. I now feel I have a foundation to initiate this project.
— Wetlands Institute Participant, 2024
I appreciated the diversity of perspectives: in the field/on the ground, First Nation/activism & advocacy/naturalist, gov specialists, youth, biologists, contractors + NGO organizations. Very comprehensive & rich intersection of interests & perspectives. Diverse just like ecosystems should be!
— Wetlands Institute Participant, 2024
I am so impressed with the overall The wetlands institute training was extremely useful to inform my future wetland projects. The diverse array of “case studies” (aka site visits) we went through throughout the week gave me diverse inputs that I can pull from to best suit my project areas based on various site constraints.quality of the Wetlands Institute. It is completely invaluable. The idea that wetland creation is attainable was a huge take-home lesson.
— Wetlands Institute Participant, 2023
This course builds your confidence in wetland restoration and helps expand your network. Plenty of practical and theoretical learning.
— Wetlands Institute Participant, 2023
I am so impressed with the overall quality of the Wetlands Institute. It is completely invaluable. The idea that wetland creation is attainable was a huge take-home lesson.
— Wetlands Institute Participant, 2019
Other Conservation Stewardship Workshops
The B.C. Wildlife Federation offers a range of hands-on workshops through its Wetlands Education Program (WEP) and Fish Habitat Restoration and Education Program (FHREP), empowering communities across British Columbia to actively participate in conservation efforts.
WEP workshops, such as Map Our Marshes and Wetlandkeepers, provide participants with practical skills in wetland mapping, classification, and restoration techniques.
FHREP’s Fish Habitat & Riparian Stewardship workshops focus on stream health assessments, riparian planting, and invertebrate sampling, equipping attendees with the knowledge to restore and monitor freshwater ecosystems.
Both programs collaborate with local experts and Indigenous communities to deliver region-specific training that fosters grassroots stewardship.
To learn about upcoming workshops, click on the link below.
Wetlands Institute Virtual Speaker Series
The B.C. Wildlife Federation’s Wetlands Institute Virtual Speaker Series is an annual online event held during the off-season, offering accessible and engaging sessions for wetland enthusiasts and professionals alike. Each year, the series features expert-led webinars on topics such as invasive species management, climate resilience, wildfire risks, and emerging restoration techniques. These sessions aim to deepen understanding of wetland ecosystems and provide practical insights for conservation efforts.
Recordings of past webinars are available for those who wish to learn at their own pace. Visit our Webinars page for more information.
Wetland Restoration
Restoring wetlands across British Columbia involves collaborative efforts with First Nations, local communities, and conservation partners. These projects aim to enhance biodiversity, improve water quality, and bolster climate resilience. By integrating Indigenous knowledge and community engagement, restoration initiatives support ecological recovery and cultural revitalization.
To learn more about these efforts and how to get involved, visit our Wetland Restoration page.
Wetlands Institute Blogs
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:
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…
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…
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…
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…
2020 Wetlands Institute — the Covid-19 Edition
The BCWF’s Wetlands Education Program (WEP) has proudly facilitated its flagship workshop, the Wetlands Institute, since 2003. This unique workshop is traditionally a 7-day, hands-on workshop that educates participants about wetland stewardship, restoration, and conservation. The application is competitive; participants apply to attend the institute with a project they are working on and get the chance to receive support from knowledgeable experts and obtain hands-on training to…
From Theory to Practice — Salt Spring Island Wetlands Institute 2018
Narrowly avoiding the Pacific Storms, the BCWF Wetlands Education Program (WEP) team was lucky to spend time away from our office in Surrey and in the safe haven of Salt Spring Island for the 16th annual Wetlands Institute. 23 enthusiastic participants from a mix of backgrounds, including: Non-profits, First Nations, Hobby Farmers, Consultants, Government, and Archaeologists,…
Stars Align for 2017 Wetlands Institute — East Kootenays
For most of the summer it appeared as though the 2017 Wetlands Institute may have had to make a drastic change in scheduling and, for the first time in history, proceed without any accompanying wetland restoration projects. With B.C. experiencing the worst wildfire season ever recorded, the three restoration projects that would have made the bulk…
Across the Lower Mainland — 2016 Wetlands Institute
Did you know that up to 70% of wetlands have been lost in settled areas of Canada? In the Lower Mainland the number is even higher. Between 1827 and 1990, over 85% of wetlands were lost, mainly due to agriculture and development. With Metro Vancouver’s population expected to rise to 3.4million people by 2041 (that’s…
Restoring Wetlands in the Okanagan – 2015 Wetlands Institute
The passion for wetland restoration and protection drew participants from all over BC to the Okanagan to attend the BC Wildlife Federation’s 13th Wetlands Institute, aiming to gain the skills and knowledge needed to complete their own wetland projects. We had quite the range of participants including Biologists, Landscape Technologists and Architects, Environmental Planners, Coordinators,…
Wetlands Institute 2014 — East Vancouver Island
In 2014, the BC Wildlife Federation’s Wetlands Institute brought 30 passionate participants to Vancouver Island for a seven-day, hands-on workshop that spanned Duncan, Nanaimo, and Courtenay. Throughout the week, participants learned practical skills to restore and build wetlands in their own communities. By the end of the training, four existing wetlands had been restored and…
Hip Deep in the West Kootenays — Wetlands Institute 2013
Did you know that North America was once covered with wetlands? It’s a wild thought when you look at today’s landscape, where fewer than 20% of wetlands remain in many developed areas. Wetlands are one of nature’s most valuable ecosystems. They provide critical services like flood control, groundwater recharge, carbon sequestration, and natural water filtration.…
Wetland Institute Alumni Restores Wetland in Fraser Valley
Why did the farmer restore a wetland? Because it mud perfect sense. Terrible puns aside, Celia Serrano probably didn’t anticipate how deep she would wade into B.C.’s wetland culture when she boarded her plane from Spain to start her internship with Balance Ecological in the Lower Mainland. She spent numerous weeks monitoring the endangered Oregon Spotted…
Stewards of the Sea-to-Sky — Wetlands Institute 2012
Can you solve this riddle? What do you get when you combine 3 communities, 36 participants, 12 trainers, 4 coordinators, and 4 restoration sites, then let it grow for 8 days? If you guessed a journey of stewards gaining knowledge and inspiration for wetland conservation in BC, you’re right! The 2012 Wetlands Institute along the…
BCWF Watershed Team 