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Grades 7-9

The 34th annual Mayor's Environment Expo will run virtually June 5 to 8, 2023 and in-person June 6 to 7, 2023.

See the listings for this grade range below. In-person sessions are on the left and virtual sessions are on the right.

Download the 2023 Teacher’s Manual for detailed information about both the virtual and in-person Expo.  Join the mailing list to receive updates and registration information. 

Have questions about the Mayor’s Environment Expo? Contact expo@calgary.ca

Don’t forget to complete the event registration form

Although the Expo is free and open to everyone, we request teachers register to ensure space in workshops and for security purposes. 

The deadline for in-person registration is May 29, 2023. You can register for virtual events right up until the start of each session.

In-person

Alberta Council for Environmental Education

Raising Youth Voice - On Environment & Energy Education

Join the Alberta Council for Environmental Education as we explore the significance of energy, environmental and climate change education in schools, specifically its presence in the Alberta Education curriculum.  The current curriculum does little to equip students for a future living with climate change, and the new pilot curriculum is only marginally improved. Evidence from anonymous polling indicates that Albertan students wish to see more environmental and climate change information incorporated into their education in order to better equip them for a future living with climate change.

Suitable for Grades 6 - 9

Alberta Environment and Protected Areas

Conservation K9 and Aquatic Invasive Species

Come and meet Diesel, one of Alberta Environment and Protected Areas’ Conservation K9's, and learn about aquatic invasive species while inspecting a shoreline. Watch the Conservation K9 in action and learn how they use their nose to help protect Alberta’s waterways!

Suitable for Grades 2-8

Arusha Centre Climate Program

Pedal Power for the People!

Explore the wonderful world of energy!  Students generate electricity on stationary bikes to experience the effort needed to power varied lights, sound systems, and appliances. This experiential learning opportunity allows students to learn about renewable sources of electricity in Alberta, and to appreciate that energy is precious and must be conserved. This workshop also uses music to connect participants with curriculum concepts of energy transformations, active transportation, renewables, climate change, energy efficiency, and other STEM topics.  These sessions allow students to get some exercise while better understanding how energy is produced, the importance of conserving energy and innovating energy systems, and real life solutions to current energy and climate concerns.

Suitable for Grades 4 - 9

Calgary District Heating Inc.

Tour of District Energy Centre

Join Calgary District Heating Inc. for a guided tour with a behind-the-scenes look at how they generate and distribute thermal energy and electricity in a reliable and sustainable way to heat buildings in the East Village and Downtown Core. Situated on the corner of 9th Ave and 4th St SE in the East Village, the District Energy Centre is the heart of an energy network that consists of over 6,000 metres of underground insulated pipes bringing centralized heating to nearly 6 million square feet of space across downtown. District energy allows for an entire district or community to be heated from one central location, resulting in greater efficiency and fewer emissions than conventional heating systems.

Students attending a tour will have the opportunity to learn about how thermal energy, in the form of hot water, moves through downtown Calgary, what is being done to become more efficient and lower the carbon footprint of the community, and what technologies are used today and into the future to be more environmentally responsible when heating and powering our homes and businesses.  District energy demonstrates an energy transition away from fossil fuels and the utilization of Solar PV, sewer heat recovery, and hydrogen to lower the carbon footprint of our communities for generations to come.

Suitable for Grades 4 - 7

Calgary Region Airshed Zone

How Do You Impact Air Quality?

Join an Air Quality Scientist and learn about how air quality affects us and how our actions affect air quality.  Why do we care about the air, how do we measure air pollution, and how can students protect the air quality for their future?  How can we change our habits to protect our air?  The in-person presentations include a smoke sensor demonstration and will be discussing all things air quality!

Suitable for Grades 5-9

Calgary Stampede

Journey 2050: Sustainable Agriculture Adventure

This workshop is a choose your own adventure session where students will work together to sustainably feed a world population of 10 billion by the year 2050. Journey 2050 is a curriculum-based school program that takes students on a virtual simulation, where they will make choices to try and balance environmental, social and economic factors in their communities, while growing enough food to feed the world!

Suitable for Grades 4 - 9

Calgary Wildlife Rehabilitation Society

Meet Our Great Horned Owl, Ophelia!

Calgary Wildlife brings education owl Ophelia, whose wing injury prevented her from being released to the wild. This is an opportunity to see and learn about

Great Horned Owls up close and personal, as they are one of our common but rarely seen urban neighbours, an apex nighttime predator, and the official bird of Alberta.

Suitable for Grades 4 - 9

Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society - Southern Alberta

Climate Game Changers Unite!

With hope, everything is possible, especially climate solutions. Join CPAWS Southern Alberta and gain real-world, eco-insight into local climate impacts, nature-based climate solutions and - most importantly - how seemingly small actions make possible the biggest climate breakthroughs. Hope lives here.

Suitable for Grades 4 - 9


Wild Wellness - It's in YOUR Nature

This event is outside

Do you ever wonder why the world just feels better when you are outside? Spending time in nature, or Vitamin N, makes us breathe, think, and feel better; but don’t take our word for it. Join CPAWS Southern Alberta for a dose of nature play and mindfulness, and let Mother Nature convince you!

Suitable for Grades K - 9

City of Calgary/Waste and Recycling Services

Rethinking Waste

Do you ever think about how buying and throwing away products may impact our environment and economy? Come and join us for this fun workshop to start thinking about eliminating waste and extending the lifecycle of products and services. Use your creative thinking skills to reconsider how we design, produce, package, and use everyday items.

Suitable for Grades 8-9

Environmental Education, Recreation and Social Programs

Experience the Mobile Adventure Playground

This event is outside

Join us for a self-directed outdoor play experience that uses loose parts and natural materials to inspire active and creative play, and connect people young and old.  Play spaces have been chosen to meet the needs of creative, imaginative, nature-based and self-directed play that are vital to children's cognitive, emotional, and social development.  Play ambassadors will be onsite to inspire play and pique imaginations!

Suitable for Grades K - 9

Ever Active Schools

Students as Change Makers for Active and Safe Routes to School

Do you have a passion for active living and want to inspire positive change in your community? Learn how students just like you can make a difference. Discover ways to encourage others to become more active and less sedentary by walking, biking or wheeling for school and local trips. Together, we will explore the impacts that our choices for transportation have on our physical and social environments and learn how encouraging active travel can bring about positive change. Guided by the Comprehensive School Health framework, you will walk away with an action plan and learn how to engage your community by assembling your team, identifying priority issues and celebrating your successes.

Suitable for Grades 4 - 8

Green Calgary & CPAWS Southern Alberta

Take Environmental Action with Citizen Science

Take part in hands-on citizen science activities and contribute to real-world science! Discover the amazing animals in your school yard and around your home, and submit your sightings to help scientists with their work. Through games and hands-on activities, we will learn what citizen science is and how we can take part!

Suitable for Grades 3 - 9

Highfield Regenerative Farm

Poop Class

Poop Class with Highfield Regenerative Farm connects the need for soil health to the health of our food, and to the health of our bodies. It all starts in the soil, and we will explore the soil food web starting with worm poop and follow the food journey all the way to planting your own seed in a pot made of cow poop. 

Suitable for Grades 1 - 9

Inside Education

The Wonderful World of Wetlands

Come on down and join us in this high energy wetlands program, where your students will test their knowledge, learn why some animals belong in a wetland and some don’t, and maybe even share their best duck impressions!  This session closely aligns with the grade 5 science curriculum, covering the values of wetlands, the types of wetlands in Alberta, components of a wetland ecosystem, animal adaptations, and wetland stewardship in a changing climate.

Suitable for Grades 4 - 6

Living Soil Solutions

The Soil Food Web: What Critters Are in There?

What?! Is there a bug in there? There may be, and so much more. Learn about the interactions of all the critters in the living soil that we can see with our eyes, and the ones we cannot. Students will learn about the impact these critters have on the soil, plants, and even ourselves!

Suitable for Grades 5 - 9

Parks Canada

Wildlife Rules!

Parks Canada's Mountain WIT is back with a celebration of the animals that make Banff National Park such a special place. Their hilarious and catchy tunes will have you singing along while you discover how we can help our furry friends to stay wild and survive.

Suitable for Grades 2 - 9

Weaselhead/Glenmore Park Preservation Society

Calgary Captured: Wildlife and Human Coexistence

Through inspiring photos captured on the land, learn about biodiversity, coexistence with urban wildlife, and human impacts on the land. In partnership with ‘Calgary Captured’, a Calgary-wide citizen science project, photos were captured through the use of motion sensor cameras. This workshop will utilize these photos to explore the Weaselhead through topics including ecosystems, seasonal changes, adaptations, wildlife and their senses, movement throughout their habitat, and protecting habitat and our wild neighbours from human impacts.

Suitable for Grades 7 - 9

Wilder Institute/Calgary Zoo

Burrowing In with Burrowing Owls

The Burrowing Owl is a unique grassland species whose Canadian population has declined by 90% since the 1990s. The owl is listed as Endangered due to several threats that result in high juvenile mortality and low migration return rates. Through a variety of hands-on activities, we will learn about the burrowing owls' habitat, diet, and head-starting project that the Wilder Institute/Calgary Zoo has devised to recover Burrowing Owl populations. Students will reflect on the question, “How can we improve our environment for Burrowing Owls and ourselves?” while acting as conservation researchers for a day to learn some of the conservation techniques that are involved in saving this species from extinction.

Suitable for Grades 4 - 8


Conservation Science!

This program will have students examining the importance of wildlife conservation by utilizing the tools, strategies and research being completed by the conservation scientists of our very own programs here in Alberta and abroad. They will further investigate how we can engage with communities to create meaningful, lasting wildlife conservation as they reflect on the question, "How might we create action that will preserve wildlife and ecosystems?

Suitable for Grades 7 - 9

Online sessions

Opening Ceremony

Opening Ceremony – 34th Annual Mayor’s Environment Expo

Join Mayor Gondek as she kicks off our 34th annual Mayor's Environment Expo. She will share her passion for climate action and environmental stewardship while welcoming students and teachers to join The City in its climate and environment initiatives through Environment Expo sessions, exhibitors and programming. EcoSchools Canada's delivery partner, the Alberta Council for Environmental Education (ACEE), will then announce and celebrate the EcoSchools in Alberta that have achieved certification this year.

Suitable for Grades K-12

Virtual, Monday June 5, 2023, 9:30 a.m. - 10:15 a.m.

Alberta Tomorrow

Alberta Tomorrow's Simulation Tool and Indigenous Voices Module

What's your vision of Calgary's future? How do we get there? The Alberta Tomorrow Simulation tool allows you to create the future you want for Calgary while learning about Alberta's environment, economy, natural resources, and Indigenous peoples. How has Calgary changed in the past, and how might it change in the future? The future is up to you; design the future you want to see!

Suitable for Grades 4-7

Virtual, Wednesday June 7, 2023, 9:15 a.m. - 10:00 a.m.

Calgary Region Airshed Zone

How Do You Impact Air Quality?

Join an Air Quality Scientist and learn about how air quality affects us and how our actions affect air quality. Why do we care about the air, how do we measure air pollution, and how can students protect the air quality for their future? How can we change our habits to protect our air? The in-person presentations include a smoke sensor demonstration and will be discussing all things air quality!

Suitable for Grades 5-12

Virtual, Monday June 5, 2023, 10:30 a.m. - 11:15 a.m.

Virtual, Thursday June 8, 2023, 2:00 p.m. - 2:45 p.m.

Calgary Stampede

Journey 2050: Sustainable Agriculture Adventure

This workshop is a choose your own adventure session where students will work together to sustainably feed a world population of 10 billion by the year 2050. Journey 2050 is a curriculum-based school program that takes students on a virtual simulation, where they will make choices to try and balance environmental, social, and economic factors in their communities while growing enough food to feed the world!

Suitable for Grades 4-12

Virtual, Monday June 5, 2023, 1:00 p.m. - 1:45 p.m.

Virtual, Thursday June 8, 2023, 2:15 p.m. - 3:00 p.m.

Elements Society

EcoCooks Food Waste: Save Food, Save the Planet!

Did you know that 1/3 of the food that the world produces is wasted? Come join EcoCooks educators to learn why this is such a problem for our planet and more importantly, how you can help. Whether it’s at home, school, or out in the community, there are many ways we can reduce, reuse and recycle our food waste and live more sustainably!

Suitable for Grades 7-12

Virtual, Monday June 5, 2023, 10:30 a.m. - 11:15 a.m.

Virtual, Tuesday June 6, 2023, 12:45 p.m. - 1:30 p.m.

Fridays for Future Calgary

The Past and Future of the Youth Climate Movement

In August 2018, Swedish teenager Greta Thunberg shocked the world by going on strike from school, demanding action to combat the climate emergency. But the story is bigger than Greta, with millions of students and allies continuing to mobilize for climate action. This presentation by Fridays for Future Calgary explores the many stories of youth climate activists, along with how youth, including Calgary students, can enact change in their community. This session will involve a short lecture-style presentation, then a brainstorming session and sharing circle for students to share their own advocacy ideas and discuss environmental issues in their community.

Suitable for Grades 7-9

Virtual, Tuesday June 6, 2023, 10:45 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.

Ghost Watershed Alliance Society

Fire and Water: How Wildfire Affects Calgary's Source Watersheds and Beyond

What in blazes? In this live, interactive session, students will look at what fire is (the fire triangle) and how wildfire could potentially impact the source water for the city of Calgary. By investigating the specific case of the 2020 Devil's Head wildfire in the Ghost River Watershed, this session will ignite interest in an important land-water connection.

Suitable for Grades 7-9

Virtual, Monday June 5, 2023, 11:45 a.m. - 12:15 p.m.

Student activity package


Against the Current: The Story of Westslope Cutthroat Trout in Alberta

Something fishy going on? In this live, interactive session, students will be introduced to the biology of the westslope cutthroat trout, a native trout species. Spooling out the line, the session will cover threats to its survival and a summary of federal and provincial recovery efforts. As a local case study, fish habitat restoration in the Ghost Watershed will be showcased. Teachers will be provided with an accompanying slide deck and student activity package.

Suitable for Grades 7-9

Virtual, Thursday June 8, 2023, 9:00 a.m. - 9:45 a.m.

Inside Education

Natural Regions Stewardship Trip!

Taking care of Alberta’s landscape is no small task, so climb aboard the Steward Ship and take a virtual tour of Alberta’s natural regions! Using mini case studies, we will introduce some of the challenges each region faces as our climate changes, and highlight some innovative ways Albertans are answering the call for adaptation and mitigation. We will also touch on scientific inquiry, understanding natural processes of our ecosystems, and looking at the geological history that shaped our landscape and created a rich diversity of natural resources.

Suitable for Grades 4-7

Virtual, Thursday June 8, 2023, 1:00 p.m. - 1:45 p.m.

Living Soil Solutions

The Soil Food Web: What Critters Are in There?

What?! Is there a bug in there? There may be, and so much more. Learn about the interactions of all the critters in the living soil that we can see with our eyes, and the ones we cannot. Students will learn about the impact these critters have on the soil, plants, and even ourselves!

Suitable for Grades 5-12

Virtual, Monday June 5, 2023, 2:15 p.m. - 3:00 p.m.

Virtual, Thursday June 8, 2023, 10:15 a.m. - 11:00 a.m.

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