Opportunities for
ESE-related Service Learning
2015-16
Please note: this list will be growing over the fall, please check back every
few weeks for listings of new service learning opportunities.
Opportunities at OISE
To volunteer for any of the OISE Projects, please contact Hilary Inwood (hilary.inwood@utoronto.ca)
Organizing OISE Eco-Art Projects
We’re aiming to put artworks on environmental themes in the main OISE stairwell to support the ‘walk
the stairs’ campaign, as well as other advocacy campaigns at OISE (eg. FLAP, energy conservation, water
conservation, paper reduction, etc). There are two eco--art projects running this year to help plan,
promote and implement.
Reduce Paper Use Campaign
We are aiming to reduce the amount of paper used in courses and administration at OISE. Volunteering
with this project would involve helping to plan and implement a paper reduction campaign.
Website Content Development
We’re looking for help to gather information to further develop content for the ESE website. This
involves finding related readings on a series of themes through a literature search, writing up an
introduction and related resources to the page, and then brainstorming possible activity ideas for this
area.
Community Learning Garden Development
We’re looking for help to further develop our resources for the OISE Community Learning Garden. Won
the connections between sustainability and accessibility for an addition to our website. This involves
finding related readings through a literature search, writing up an introduction to
sustainability/accessibility connections, and then brainstorming possible projects for OISE in this area for
the future.
Graphic Design Work
We need help designing posters and other print materials for our ESE projects; this can be done on-line
but design skills are needed.
Sustainability Project Development
If you have an idea for a project to encourage sustainability at OISE, we’re interested in hearing it!
Opportunities in the Schools
To volunteer for any of these projects, please contact the person listed directly.
Contact Name: Elizabeth Pasternak
Contact info (email and phone): elizabeth.pasternak@tdsb.on.ca (647-771-4429)
Name of the Organization/School: da Vinci Alternative Public School and Lord Lansdowne Public School
Location of the Organization/School: Spadina and College
Description of the volunteer opportunity: to work with our Eco Schools project. Our school community
needs a lot of help in educating the students about waste management and keeping the yard and school
clean. We are looking for ways to motivate and educate students, as well as develop some leadership
that has a lasting effect in this urban neighbourhood.
Contact Name: Jessie Bass-West
Contact info (email and phone): Jessie.bass-west@tdsb.on.ca 416-396-6505 (school) and 647-669-5379
(cell)
Name of the Organization/School: Oakridge Junior Public School
Location of the Organization/School: 110 Byng Ave. Scarborough (Pharmacy and Danforth area)
Description of the volunteer opportunity: A JK/SK class that would like to do more with the
environment and social justice education!
Contact Name: Mike Modeste
Contact info (email and phone): mike.modeste@tcdsb.org - 416-397-6536
Name of the Organization/School: Monsignor Fraser - St. Martin, TCDSB
Location of the Organization/School: 55 Salisbury Avenue, Toronto (Parliament and Wellesley)
Description of the volunteer opportunity: This opportunity centres around assisting with our coursebased urban gardening and ecology program in an alternative high school. Opportunities may include
one or more of the following based on candidate's interests and availability: volunteering and / or
leading workshops in the program during class time; developing curriculum materials or presentations
(e.g. PowerPoint, Prezi) on given topics related to urban gardening and ecological literacy (e.g. food and
climate change, organic growing methods, food security / food sovereignty etc.); assisting with garden
design, indoor growing, or alternative growing methods; or a project suggested by the candidate.
Contact Name: Ellie Clin
Contact info (email and phone): Ellie.Clin@tdsb.on.ca / 416-393-9150
Name of the Organization/School: The Grove Community School & Alexander Muir Gladstone P.S.' Eco
Film Club
Location of the Organization/School: 108 Gladstone Ave., Toronto, ON; school library
Description of the volunteer opportunity: Our Eco Film Club is an extra-curricular opportunity for junior
and intermediate students (grades 4-8) from both schools to create short films to submit to the Planet in
Focus/TDSB Eco Film Lab. We are looking for a few committed volunteers who could work with small
groups of students to create their films from start to finish (planning, storyboarding, filming, editing).
Experience with iPads and videography apps (e.g. iMovie, StopMotion) would be a plus, but is not
necessary if you are eager to learn. This opportunity is tentatively scheduled each Wednesday
immediately after school dismissal (approximately 3:30-5:00pm), from February 10-May 4, and may
require a few extra hours to submit the films in the online application. Film submissions are due May 6,
2016 and the student film festival red carpet gala event will take place June 9, 2016.
Contact Name: Lisa McDonald
Contact info (email and phone): lisa.mcdonald@tdsb.on.ca 416-393-9455 X20020
Name of the Organization/School: TDSB/ Duke of Connaught Jr & Sr Public School
Location of the Organization/School: 70 Woodfield Rd, Toronto, ON M4L 2W6
Description of the volunteer opportunity: Working in Schools community garden, proficiency in French
a bonus.
Contact Name: Doug Breckman
Contact info (email and phone): douglas.breckman@tdsb.on.ca 416-396-3365 ext 20239
Name of the Organization/School: SATEC @ W.A. Porter C.I.
Location of the Organization/School: 40 Fairfax Crescent, Scarborough M1L 1Z9 (near Warden TTC
Station)
Description of the volunteer opportunity: We are a platinum eco-school with a very active
Environmental Club (EC) that meets Tuesdays after school. The club has several projects going in the
spring. You could work with students here if your schedule allows, or help by planning excursions for
them. This would involve prep that you could do off-site, plus be one of the teachers to go with them for
the day. I also will have two Grade 9 Geography classes starting next month and plan to do Green
Mapping with them in local neighbourhoods. A teacher with skills of mapping or GIS could help me
prepare this activity. For maximum value though, you would want to see how the activity works with
students.
Contact Name: Paul Hackl
Contact info: Office: 416-393-0851
Location of the Organization/School: Toronto Urban Studies Centre 800 Greenwood Ave. M4J 4B7
Description of the volunteer opportunity: Developing new curriculum material for the Toronto Urban
Studies Centre. I could use help with curriculum design and development, testing of new material and
the development of related materials, such as power point type presentations and field note assignment
sheets to introduce and support the new material.
Contact Name: Jennifer Venalainen
Contact info (email and phone): Jennifer.Venalainen@tdsb.on.ca, 416-393-1830
Location of the Organization/School: Charles G. Fraser P.S. 79 Manning Avenue (near Queen and
Bathurst)
Description of the volunteer opportunity: We have a vibrant Eco Club with several project ideas that
could be a good match for one of your teacher candidates.
Opportunities in Community Organizations
To volunteer for any of these projects, please contact the person listed directly.
Contact Name: Ann Macpherson
Contact info (email and phone): annm@rom.on.ca 416 586 5800
Location of the Organization/School: Hands-on Biodiversity Gallery, Royal Ontario Museum
100 Queen's Park, Toronto M5S 2C6
Description of the volunteer opportunity:
The Hands-on Biodiversity Gallery at the Royal Ontario Museum is an interactive area that uses work
stations, activity boxes and real specimens to engage visitors in learning about biodiversity and threats
to our natural world. Students will have an opportunity to use their background in environmental
education to inspire the next generation to explore the natural world and find out how they may make a
difference. I have a number of projects students could be involved in depending on your interest and
availability.
Contact Name: Agata Gidzinski
Contact info (email and phone): agatagidzinski@gmail.com
Name of the Organization/School: PACT Grow to Learn Schoolyard Gardening Program
Location of the Organization/School: PACT GTL has 5 schoolyard gardens, located in Rexdale, Etobicoke,
and Lawrence Heights. Depending on the number of interested participants, they may request a site
closest to them, but may be asked to visit various sites throughout their time with us.
Description of the volunteer opportunity:
PACT Grow to Learn is a schoolyard gardening organization, located in Priority Neighbourhoods across
Toronto. Teacher Candidates interning/volunteering with us will have a chance to engage with hands on,
in gardening teaching opportunities with students of various age ranges, but mostly focused on high
school students. We are currently rolling out new curriculum linked workshops to offer to our adjoining
schools, and teacher candidates are welcome to help in implementing them. Teacher candidates will
also get to learn valuable gardening and farming skills while working in the gardens. We welcome any
teacher candidates who would be interested in continuing to create and implement curriculum-linked
nature based workshops and lessons as a part of completing their hours.
Contact Name: Sierra Frank
Contact info (email and phone): sfrank@ecosource.ca
Name of the Organization/School: Ecosource Location of the Organization/School: Mississauga
Description of the volunteer opportunity: Ecosource is looking for teacher candidates to contribute to
our in-school waste education programs. Depending on availability and interest, we have various
volunteer opportunities to select form. These include supporting our in-school environmental campaign
programs (availability during school hours necessary) and helping to write curriculum-linked lessons
(with a secondary focus). We also have other opportunities including supporting our Peel Environmental
Youth Alliance program and community garden and urban agriculture events. For more information on
Ecosource: www.ecosource.ca
Contact Name: Xuan-Yen Cao and Kanaka Kulendran
Contact info (email and phone): youtheducation@thestop.org
Name of the Organization/School: The Stop Community Food Centre
Location of the Organization/School: 601 Christie Street, Barn 4, Toronto, Ontario. M6G 4C7
Description of the volunteer opportunity:
We looking for a teacher candidate to help with research as to further inform and develop our
educational programming and pedagogical practices around food systems and food justice in our
community. We have three areas of interest –it would be great if a student help research ONE of the
topics below.
Research topics for ESE students to support or lead:
1.
Research Anti Oppressive Practice and Anti-Racist Practice in informal and formal education
pedagogy outside of Canada (theories, practices and case studies)
2.
Research and Collate LOI, model school and priority school data in TDSB and TCDSB
(statistics relating to food issues, access and i.e. poverty stats and other measures)
3.
Community Asset Map of After-School Programs (children and youth) in the Davenport West
and St. Clair West neighbourhoods (story-based report that will include organizations’
mandate, AOP anti-discrimination practices and policies, who they serve and program
offerings, costs, and funding info)
Contact Name: Andrew McMartin, Executive Director
Contact info (email and phone): andrew@pineproject.org and 647 991 7463
Name of the Organization/School: The p.i.n.e. project
Location of the Organization/School: Office - 12 St Annes Rd, Toronto, ON M6J 2C1. Program location Humber Valley (Old Mill), Taylor Creek Park, and Earl Bales Park
Description of the volunteer opportunity: Program volunteers - learn about nature based mentoring,
wilderness survival skills, and naturalist knowledge by helping out with the p.i.n.e. project community
school, weekly and monthly programs that connect children, families and nature in the city.
Contact Name: Tim Grant
Contact info (email and phone): tim@greenteacher.com, 416-847-1065
Name of the Organization/School: Green Teacher
Location of the Organization/School: 28 Lennox (Bathurst and Bloor)
Description of the volunteer opportunity: We have several service-learning opportunities which could
be done at home during evenings and weekends. Here are a few examples. One is to post recent
French and Spanish translations of articles from our Green Teacher magazine onto our websites so that
francophone and Spanish-speaking educators around the world can make (free) use of them. Another is
to research the environmental initiatives in school boards outside of Ontario. Still another would be to
write reviews for a couple of brand new environmental education resources for our magazine. We also
would welcome help in our office with many other, but similar tasks.
Contact Name: Kelly Park
Website: www.treceducation.ca
Contact info (email and phone): kelly@treceducation.ca and 416-583-2233
Name of the Organization/School: TREC Education
Location of the Organization/School: 401 Richmond St. W., Toronto
Description of the volunteer opportunity: Volunteers for children’s education event, Kids’ World of
Energy Festival 2016, May 4 – May 7, 2016. Every May, our annual Festival hosts more than 2,500
students and adults - offering unique, hands-on workshops focusing on renewable energy, energy
conservation and environmental topics. It’s a one-of-a-kind experience! Held at Evergreen Brick Works,
a community green space in the heart of Toronto, the four-day Festival offers Gr. 5 and 6 students a
unique range of hands-on workshops involving renewable energy, conservation, electricity, art and
active participation. We are seeking dedicated people to help us deliver our education workshops
during the festival. There are a variety of roles available and only a one-day commitment is required.
Please contact us if you are interested in learning more.
Contact Name: Jasmine Green
Contact info (email and phone): jgreen@trca.on.ca 905-832-2289 Ext. 239
Name of the Organization/School: Kortright Centre for Conservation
Location of the Organization/School: 9550 Pine Valley Drive Vaughan
Description of the volunteer opportunity: The Kortright Centre for Conservation offers a wide variety of
sustainable technology workshops, green weddings and events, special events for families, forest school
and education programs. Our education department specializes in outdoor and experiential programs
for students from Kindergarten to Grade 12. We offer a wide variety of programming including Bee
Conservation, Low Ropes and Teambuilding, Geocaching, Orienteering, Animal Instincts for Survival,
Nature Hikes, Pond Studies and more. We also have family events including Owl Prowls, Family Day
Carnival, Bat Hikes, Maple Syrup Festival, Parent and Tot programs and more! Here at Kortright we are
always interested in working with professional students who are looking to complete a co-op or
volunteer placement in education.
Contact Name: Sunday Harrison
Contact info (email and phone): sunday@greenthumbsto.org, 647-348-5437 office, 416-876-1480 cell
Name of the Organization/School: Green Thumbs Growing Kids
Location of the Organization/School: downtown east Toronto, St. James Town, Regent Park &
Cabbagetown (4 schools)
Description of the volunteer opportunity: Community partner works with 4 elementary/middle schools
offering educational programs in their school food gardens and local greenhouses. Programs are
curriculum-linked during school day and continue after school, with secondary-aged youth. They are
seasonal, thus busiest in spring & fall. Volunteers are needed for children's programs staffing, curriculum
development, social media, garden work & more. We can provide training, seeds, plants & garden
produce, reference letters, and sometimes honoraria in exchange for your valuable time. Come grow
with us!
Contact Name: Jean Tong
Contact info (email and phone): jtong@esri.ca (416) 386-6425
Name of the Organization/School: Esri Canada
Location of the Organization/School: 12 Concorde Place, Toronto, Ontario
Description of the volunteer opportunity: The Education and Research group at Esri Canada supports
educators across Canada to integrate Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and spatial inquiry into their
own teaching. We conduct hands-on workshops for educators and create curriculum-focused resources
to be used in teaching. The K-12 group at Esri Canada is seeking a student to help update and develop
ArcGIS Online (www.arcgis.com) activities and lessons to be used by educators and students. Visit
http://arcg.is/1kfNzKF to explore some of our teaching resources. Learn more about Esri Canada and our
educational programs at [esri.ca/education]esri.ca/education.