HCTF Education

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HCTF Education Promoting conservation through hands-on education. WildBC Network - Workshops - School Programs – Grants. Part of Habitat Conservation Trust Foundation

The Salmon That Stays Home!Most salmon are famous for travelling between the ocean and freshwater. But Kokanee Salmon do...
10/20/2026

The Salmon That Stays Home!

Most salmon are famous for travelling between the ocean and freshwater. But Kokanee Salmon do things a little differently!

Kokanee are actually a freshwater form of Sockeye Salmon that spend their entire lives in lakes and rivers instead of migrating to the ocean.

For much of the year, Kokanee are bright silver. But when spawning season arrives, they transform dramatically, turning brilliant red with green heads as they prepare to reproduce.

Kokanee play an important role in freshwater ecosystems. They provide food for birds, mammals, and other fish, helping connect different parts of the food web.

Looking for a fun and interactive way to learn about the journey Kakanee take to spawn!? Why not try out our Kokanee spawning adventure game! Instructions and game board available for free download at:
Activity Instructions: https://buff.ly/6h2AzLQ
Gameboard: https://buff.ly/EE1K0QS

Check out our Freshwater Fish and Habitats Collections at https://buff.ly/Ai62zZa

Crows have a spooky reputation... but they’re seriously smart!With their black feathers, mysterious calls and appearance...
10/19/2026

Crows have a spooky reputation... but they’re seriously smart!

With their black feathers, mysterious calls and appearances in plenty of Halloween stories, crows are a classic spooky-season animal. 👻

But there’s much more to these clever birds than their Halloween image. Crows can solve problems, recognize individual people and learn from their surroundings.

So the next time you see a crow watching you from a tree, don’t be scared. It might just be figuring you out!

Scholarship Highlight: Daphnee Tuzlak!Daphnee is one of 2026’s Together for Wildlife scholarship Recipients Daphnee is a...
10/16/2026

Scholarship Highlight: Daphnee Tuzlak!

Daphnee is one of 2026’s Together for Wildlife scholarship Recipients

Daphnee is a PhD student at Simon Fraser University. Her research assesses the extent to which long-term (millennial-scale) Indigenous land use practices have influenced terrestrial and freshwater systems. Daphnee’s work aims to support Gitxsan Wilps ‘Wii K’aax in their restoration and management plans for an Indigenous Protected Area.

The Together for Wildlife scholarship is awarded annually by HCTF in partnership with the First Nations-B.C. Wildlife & Habitat Conservation Forum and the Province of British Columbia’s Together for Wildlife Strategy (T4W) to masters and Ph.D. candidates conducting research that will have a positive impact on stewardship, management, policy, or decision-making of wildlife in BC.

Interested in applying for the T4W Scholarship? Head to https://buff.ly/sdplw15 to learn more!

Double, double, toil and trouble…What’s a witch’s favourite Halloween ingredient? A toad, of course! Toads have long bee...
10/14/2026

Double, double, toil and trouble…

What’s a witch’s favourite Halloween ingredient? A toad, of course!

Toads have long been part of spooky stories and witchy tales, but these bumpy little amphibians are actually pretty cool. They help control insect populations and play an important role in BC’s ecosystems.

And those “warts”? No magic spell needed! They’re a natural part of a toad’s skin.

So this Halloween, if you spot a toad lurking in the shadows, don’t run for the broomstick. Take a closer look at one of BC’s coolest little amphibians!

Scholarship Highlight: Peter Baker!Peter is one of 2026’s Together for Wildlife scholarship Recipients Peter Baker is a ...
10/09/2026

Scholarship Highlight: Peter Baker!

Peter is one of 2026’s Together for Wildlife scholarship Recipients

Peter Baker is a PhD student at the University of British Columbia Okanagan under the supervision of Dr. Adam Ford. His research combines his interests in movement ecology and animal physiology to explore how wildfire risk reduction treatments influence the habitat, behavior, and energy expenditure of mule deer in central British Columbia. This work will help provide the evidence base needed to ensure fuel management strategies support healthy mule deer populations.

The Together for Wildlife scholarship is awarded annually by HCTF in partnership with the First Nations-B.C. Wildlife & Habitat Conservation Forum and the Province of British Columbia’s Together for Wildlife Strategy (T4W) to masters and Ph.D. candidates conducting research that will have a positive impact on stewardship, management, policy, or decision-making of wildlife in BC.

Interested in applying for the T4W Scholarship? Head to https://buff.ly/sdplw15 to learn more!

Don’t let the Halloween stories fool you... snakes aren’t scary!Snakes often get cast as the villains of Halloween, but ...
10/07/2026

Don’t let the Halloween stories fool you... snakes aren’t scary!

Snakes often get cast as the villains of Halloween, but these fascinating reptiles are actually important parts of BC’s ecosystems.

They help keep populations of rodents and other prey in check, and some BC snakes have some pretty incredible adaptations for surviving in our diverse landscapes.

Plus, most snakes would much rather avoid you than have anything to do with you!

This Halloween, skip the screams and appreciate the snakes.

Hives and Webs and Slime OH MY! Spooky season is the perfect time to learn more about the local invertebrates that share...
10/05/2026

Hives and Webs and Slime OH MY!

Spooky season is the perfect time to learn more about the local invertebrates that share our home with us! Who knows, you may find out that they're not all that creepy after all!

Check out our Insect ID cards to help identify the bugs and other invertebrates you may encounter in BC! https://buff.ly/4W4cMpA

Scholarship Highlight: Megan Buers!Megan is one of 2026’s Al Martin scholarship RecipientsMegan Buers is a PhD student a...
10/02/2026

Scholarship Highlight: Megan Buers!

Megan is one of 2026’s Al Martin scholarship Recipients

Megan Buers is a PhD student at the University of British Columbia Okanagan, studying how threatened Western Screech-Owls (Megascops kennicotii) move through managed forest landscapes on Vancouver Island. She has spent nearly a decade researching birds of prey, working with Northern Saw-whet Owls, Burrowing Owls, American Kestrels, and more across Canada. The research will help guide conservation efforts and sustainable land management practices that benefit both screech-owls and the broader forest ecosystems they inhabit.

Interested in applying for the AL Martin Scholarship? Head to https://buff.ly/sdplw15 to learn more!

September 30 is the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, a day to honour residential school survivors, remember th...
09/30/2026

September 30 is the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, a day to honour residential school survivors, remember the children who never returned home, and reflect on the ongoing effects on Indigenous Peoples, families, and communities.

Reconciliation is an ongoing responsibility. September 30 offers opportunities to listen to Indigenous voices, learn from survivors and Indigenous communities, and reflect on what reconciliation requires of each of us.

At HCTF, we recognize that this learning informs how we work with Indigenous Peoples. We continue to learn, listen, build stronger relationships, and improve the way we support stewardship of our fish, wildlife, and habitat work led by and alongside Indigenous communities.

September 30 reminds us, as part of learning and participating in reconciliation, to seek Indigenous voices and Indigenous-led resources. Read, listen, attend an Indigenous-led event, and continue learning throughout the year.

Explore the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s Calls to Action: https://buff.ly/BcudVyN

Learn more from Indigenous-led organizations such as the Orange Shirt Society founded by Phyllis Webstad, describing the relationship between the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation and Orange Shirt Day: https://buff.ly/khiO3cC

From counting eagles to preventing bird strikes, these students are putting conservation into action!This fall, students...
09/30/2026

From counting eagles to preventing bird strikes, these students are putting conservation into action!

This fall, students in Squamish took part in a 30-year eagle count project in Brackendale, using binoculars, nature journals, birding guides, and data surveys to monitor eagles and other bird species.

They didn’t stop at collecting data. Students analyzed their findings, learned about the Pacific Flyway, and identified areas around their school where birds were at risk of window strikes. Working with Bird Friendly Squamish, they installed anti-collision tape on high-risk windows and will continue monitoring to see if it helps reduce collisions.

Students also participated in Purple Martin counts at the estuary, sharpened their bird identification skills, coded micro to measure temperature, and learned from First Nation mentor Tsawaysia about Sp'akw'us (eagles), the land around Eagle Run, Squamish Nation stories, and the impacts of colonialism on ecosystems.

Their work culminated in a school sharing day, where students presented their data, photos, and experiences to younger students and answered questions about what they had learned.

This project was supported by a LEAP Grant! Leadership Environmental Action Project (LEAP) grants for middle to high school classes. LEAP into conservation with your students to undertake a mini conservation project focused on BC’s biodiversity of fish, wildlife, and or their habitats.

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