About EcoSpark

About Us 

EcoSpark is an environmental charity connecting people to their local natural environment through education, monitoring and stewardship. Operating since 1996, EcoSpark has developed a reputation as a community leader in local engagement, education, citizen science and collaboration.

Mission Statement 

The EcoSpark mission is to empower communities to take an active role in protecting and sustaining their local environments. We do this by giving people tools for education, monitoring and influencing positive change. 

Background 

EcoSpark strives to initiate life-long environmental action in volunteers and participants through inspirational programs. Our programs engage participants in activities, giving them the tools to learn about and take actions that benefit their local environment. Educators, students and local community members participate in scientific research projects in collaboration with certified staff and other professional scientists. Working in a collaborative fashion, EcoSpark mentors citizens in meaningful environmental work while contributing valuable data to local, regional, national and international environmental research projects. 

To date, EcoSpark has worked directly with 89,000 residents from across southern Ontario, inspiring thousands of youth and adults with STEM-based programs and projects. Results from EcoSpark programs in over 30 watersheds have provided local data for hundreds of research projects.

EcoSpark uses the power of science to connect students and community members to the natural world. Our tagline – discover, act, change – reflects our theory of change. We help people discover the beauty of nature, act through stewardship projects to make it more sustainable, and share the data collected with researchers and policy-makers to create sustainable policy changes.

Strategy 

The 2017-2021 EcoSpark strategic plan has four general goals:

LAnd Acknowledgement

We acknowledge the land where EcoSpark has its office is the traditional territory of many nations including the Mississaugas of the Credit, the Anishnabeg, the Chippewa, the Haudenosaunee and the Wendat peoples and is now home to many diverse First Nations, Inuit and Métis peoples. We also acknowledge that Toronto is covered by Treaty 13 with the Mississaugas of the Credit.

We acknowledge that the land where EcoSpark runs programs is the traditional territory of many nations, and is now home to many diverse First Nations, Inuit, and Métis peoples.