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Grades 4 - 6

The 35th annual Mayor’s Environment Expo will run virtually June 3-6, 2024 and in-person June 4 to 5, 2024.

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

Download the 2024 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 27, 2024. You can register for virtual events right up until the start of each session.

In-person

Alberta Institute for Wildlife Conservation

Creatures and Climate

Did you know that climate change is already having an impact on wildlife in Alberta? Join us to learn more about how some of our wildlife species respond to climate change, why climate change is so challenging for wildlife to adapt to, and what we humans can do to help. This program will include a presentation on how climate change is impacting Alberta's ecosystems and wildlife, as well as biofacts such as taxidermy animals, bones, skulls, and pelts. Learners will also be given time to brainstorm their own adaptations and explore how these adaptations will be affected if the environment changes.

Suitable for Grades 3 - 6

The Arusha Centre

Pedal Powering Our World

This program will run continuously in the Learning Commons. Register, then participate at a time that is convenient for your group!

Explore the wonderful world of energy! Students will 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 3 - 9

Bow Habitat Station

Trout Without Doubt!

Well kids, today’s your lucky day because the Fairy Trout Mother is going to turn a very lucky human into a spectacular Rainbow Trout! Complete with a brilliant technical transformation from human to fish, all participating scientists will learn how trout design makes for an exciting life in the Bow River. Human is guaranteed to be returned to original form upon completion of program.

Suitable for Grades K - 6


Walking on Water

Well kids, today’s your lucky day because the Fairy Trout Mother is going to turn a very lucky human into a spectacular Rainbow Trout! Complete with a brilliant technical transformation from human to fish, all participating scientists will learn how trout design makes for an exciting life in the Bow River. Human is guaranteed to be returned to original form upon completion of program.

Suitable for Grades 1 - 6

Calgary District Heating Inc.

Tour the District Energy Centre!

PPE will be provided onsite.

Join Calgary District Heating Inc. for a guided behind-the-scenes tour of 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 Stampede

Journey 2050: Sustainable Agriculture Adventure

Join us on a sustainability-focused choose-your-own-adventure session to see if you are economically, socially, or environmentally driven. Work together to see the ripple effect of your choices, and how you can move us all towards a more sustainable future!

Suitable for Grades 4 - 7

Calgary Wildlife Rehabilitation Society

Meet a Marmot!

Meet Calgary Wildlife's resident Hoary Marmot! Get an introduction to wildlife rehabilitation and common challenges wildlife face in our urban environment. Learn about burrowing, hibernating, ecosystem connections and the urban dangers as they relate to hoary marmots! Finish the presentation with a brief visit from our live-animal ambassador, Marmalade (a hoary marmot)!

Suitable for Grades K - 9


Beavers: Built to Build

A rodent important to North America’s past, and future! Find out how the beaver has been built to create wetland habitat, refill aquifers, stop forest fires, cleanse pollution from water, and mitigate floods and drought! How do you tell male and female beavers apart? Ever seen a baby beaver kit? What does vanilla have to do with the beaver? Learn this through song, dance, sounds, biofacts, and patient stories in our Built to Build (Beavers) presentation. Let’s learn to co-exist with beavers, their building skills will come in handy!

Suitable for Grades K - 6

Calgary Regional Airshed Zone

Breathing Easy: Understanding and Improving Air Quality

Join an Air Quality Scientist and learn about the importance of air quality for human health and the environment. What is air quality, what are the health impacts of poor air quality, how do we monitor the air quality, and what can we do to help?

This will be an interactive presentation where students can ask questions and engage in discussion about air quality-related topics.

Suitable for Grades 5+

CPAWS 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 the biggest climate breakthroughs possible. Hope lives here!

Suitable for Grades 4 - 6


Go Go Water Rangers!

Learn about the importance of water, wetlands and watersheds by taking a virtual journey down the Bow River. Along the way, you will meet many wetland friends that teach us what is happening to our local waterways. Learn how you can help our wetland friends by becoming a Water Ranger today!

Suitable for Grades 4 - 5

CPAWS Southern Alberta & Thimbleberry Learning

Mindful Nature Moments

This program will occur outside. Please dress for the weather.

When the hustle and bustle of downtown gets you feeling rushed, come unwind under the shade of a Schubert Chokecherry or stretch out on the lawn at Olympic Plaza. CPAWS is teaming up with Thimbleberry Learning to bring you a well-deserved chance to slow down and connect to the natural world. These Mindful Nature Moments will combine active movement, sensory exploration, and present-moment awareness in a fun and accessible way. Don’t leave Expo without treating yourself and your students to the gift of mindful connection in nature!

Suitable for Grades K - 12

The City of Calgary – Calgary Emergency Management Agency

Emergency Preparedness for Extreme Weather

Weather related events are intensifying due to climate change. These events include tornadoes, floods, drought, extreme heat, and intense summer and winter storms. There are actions you can take to keep yourself, your family and your community safe! In this workshop students will analyze different disaster hazards and their connection to climate change, learn various actions they can take to increase their safety, and discover ways they can share the important message of emergency preparedness. Through hands-on activities, students will be equipped with knowledge, awareness, and skills allowing them feel confident and prepared for disasters and emergencies in Calgary.

Suitable for Grades 5

The City of Calgary – Parks and Open Spaces

Beavers: Our Watershed Engineers

How can we keep water on the landscape during times of drought? Beavers can help! Learn how these watershed engineers modify ecosystems to increase biodiversity, improve water quality, and store precious fresh water in times of drought. Buck up for a presentation you can really sink your teeth into!

Suitable for Grades 4 - 6

The City of Calgary – Recreation and Social Programs

Mobile Adventure Playground!

This program will occur outside. Please dress for the weather.

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

Cochrane Ecological Institute

Becoming an Urgent Optimist

The goal of this workshop, Becoming an Urgent Optimist, is to help students develop a deeper connection to the natural world, and to help them recognize that they have a voice and a sense of purpose. By the end of the session, student will feel empowered to become environmental leaders who can make a difference in their community.

Suitable for Grades 5 - 8

Elbow River Watershed Partnership Society

Paint a Watershed!

Discover how water, the greatest solvent, reaches all areas of a landscape and drains to the lowest point, while carrying materials like sediment, nutrients, and contaminants. Following a curriculum focused discussion, students will create their own watershed simulations with art supplies!

All art and cleaning supplies will be provided. Students should not wear their favorite clothing in case they get (washable) paint on them.

Suitable for Grades 2, 4, 5

Evergreen Theatre

Evergreen Theatre Presents: "Snow White and the Seven Regions"

Evergreen Theatre's "Snow White and the Seven Regions" is a musical theatre show that is focused on climate change challenges and solutions across Canada's 7 physiographic regions while paying homage to the classic "Snow White" fairy tale. Our theatrical performances engage children from Grades K-6, with opportunities for student volunteers to perform with us on stage. Our shows feature curriculum-based scripts, exciting sets, props, and costumes - and popular music based on hits that kids and teachers love.

Suitable for Grades K - 6

Gasonic Group

The Air We Breathe – Exploring Clean Air Adventures

In this dynamic workshop, kids will embark on an exciting exploration of air quality with live demonstrations of cutting-edge instruments used to measure key pollutants in the air. Watch in awe as our electronic canary reacts to changes in air quality, dropping down when pollution levels rise!

But the adventure doesn't stop there! We'll delve into the often-overlooked issue of indoor air pollution in Canada, uncovering how attached garages in many homes can inadvertently bring harmful pollutants indoors. Plus, learn how the type of vehicle we drive, whether it's a hybrid, plug-in hybrid, or electric car, can significantly impact air quality. A zero pollution electric vehicle will be displayed in the lobby.

Through engaging demonstrations and eye-opening discussions, kids will leave empowered with knowledge and practical solutions for promoting cleaner air in their communities. Don't miss out on this unforgettable journey towards a breath of fresh air!"

Suitable for Grades 5 - 9

Green Calgary

Worms Love Leftovers! Reducing Food Waste

Meet, touch and hold a bin full of vermicomposting worms! Learn about food waste, ways we can reduce our impact, and how worms can turn our food waste into valuable compost. We show students the wonderful world of worms while exploring worm anatomy, life cycles, and what they eat. Kids will participate in food-sorting activity (what worms do and don't eat) and will get hands-on time with the worms.

Suitable for Grades K - 6


Water for Life

Water for Life focuses on how our activities impact and potentially pollute our water sources. We will teach students about why we need to protect our freshwater and do a hands-on activity looking at possible pollution sources.

Suitable for Grades 2 - 6


Waste in Our World

With a focus on landfills and waste-sorting, this program offers students a chance to build their own model landfills and test their designs to keep their groundwater clean!

Suitable for Grades 3 - 5

Green Calgary & CPAWS Southern Alberta

Science in the Schoolyard: Birds

This program will occur outside. Please dress for the weather.

Get your students outside and see what animals and plants can be found in our inner-city environments! This program takes students outside making scientific observations in the natural world, and submitting these observations to assist the work of professional scientists through citizen science apps. This session focuses on birds, using the app Merlin (iPads will be provided during the session). We will start inside with some basic information, and then take some time outside with the students to look for local species.

Suitable for Grades 2 - 6

Inside Education

Finding Home on the Range: Alberta Wildlife and Sustainable Agriculture

Get your buzzers ready for Inside Education's grasslands game show where students will test their knowledge on Alberta's grasslands, the plants and animals that live there and agriculture in the region. This interactive presentation will also include an immersive game on habitat and how innovations are helping wildlife.

Suitable for Grades 6 - 9

Living Soil Solutions

Worms at Work!

Get up close and personal with these hardworking squiggly wriggly critters. Students will learn the difference between dirt and soil and its importance to all humans, diving into how worms are used for composting, and all the things the worms need to get busy decomposing.

Suitable for Grades K - 4

In person, Tuesday June 4, 2024, 11:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.


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 - 8

In person, Tuesday June 4, 2024, 12:45 p.m. - 1:45 p.m.

MFC Olympics

Generate Electricity with Soil Microbes from Your Backyard!

With the MFC Olympics workshop, action begins with an immersive introduction to microbes and Microbial Fuel Cell (MFC) fundamentals. In small teams, students then construct a working MFC, with soil from backyards in Calgary. After the workshop, the teams keep their MFC, which should produce enough electricity to power a blinking LED within weeks! For six weeks, teams can interact with the workshop facilitators through weekly online meetings and post their power readings on the MFC Olympics website.

Suitable for Grades 4 - 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 3 - 9

Walter MacDonald White Bear

Wheel of Life

Please join Walter MacDonald White Bear, Cree singer-songwriter, educator, motivational speaker, and traditional knowledge keeper, as he delivers his workshop in a highly theatrical and educational style. Complete with instruments such as The Native American Courting Flute as well as the Hand Drum, Walter will share traditional songs as well as contemporary music performed on the acoustic guitar. Walter will explain and share traditional knowledge that has been passed down from Elders. The presentation will be shared in a manner that will be enjoyed by teachers and students alike, with a unique cultural perspective on the environment and Mother Earth.

Suitable for Grades 1 - 9

WP Puppet Theatre

The Greedy Frog – Puppet Show & Puppet Making Workshop

“The Greedy Frog” is a cautionary story reminding us that water is an important part of everything. Originally an Australian folktale, about a frog who swallowed all the water in the world, but it’s given a modern overtone with found object puppets and modern water issues. A child holds the key to the padlock though and saves the world!

Participants watch and discuss a screening of WP Puppet Theatre's 10 minute original video of "The Greedy Frog" puppet show, specifically on how Frogs are an indicator species giving scientists valuable insight into how an ecosystem is functioning. Students then create their own Frog Puppets, and then present short skits about their characters views on the state of the environment.

WPTS provides all the supplies and equipment for the screening and the project. Students can take their puppets home!

Suitable for Grades 3 - 5

Weaselhead/Glenmore Park Preservation Society

Darken the Sky – Lights Out for the Nocturnal World

This workshop is an exploration of the ecological importance of the nighttime world for wild animals and plants and the importance of dark skies for healthy nocturnal environments. Discover the night life in Calgary parks with photos taken through a citizen science project called Calgary Captured, and how we can coexist with our wildlife neighbours. Learn about different kinds of light, the biological impacts of light pollution and how your action can help all living things. Students will walk away with an understanding of the importance of dark skies. 

Suitable for Grades 4 - 9

Virtual sessions

Opening Ceremony - The City of Calgary

Opening Ceremony – 35th Annual Mayor’s Environment Expo

Join Mayor Gondek as she kicks off our 35th 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 3, 2024, 9:30 a.m. - 10:00 a.m.

Break the Divide

Climate Emotions and Community Connections

This workshop offers a deep dive into the intersection of environmental challenges and mental health, providing students with both insights and practical tools to navigate these complexities. By delving into personal reflections and shared experiences, students will gain a deeper understanding of their own climate emotions and how these feelings intersect with broader environmental issues. 

From mindfulness techniques to creative outlets, attendees will discover a range of practices to foster emotional resilience and cultivate a sense of empowerment in addressing climate-related concerns. At the heart of our workshop lies the Break The Divide approach, which emphasizes the power of community connections in fostering collective resilience and action. Students will explore how shared experiences and mutual support can serve as powerful catalysts for positive change in their local and global communities.

Suitable for Grades 4 - 12

Virtual, Tuesday June 4, 2024, 11:00 a.m. - 11:45 a.m.


Émotions climatiques et liens avec la communauté - Français

Dans le monde d'aujourd'hui, il est essentiel pour les étudiants de comprendre les dimensions émotionnelles du changement climatique. Notre séminaire, "Emotions climatiques et liens avec la communauté", propose une plongée en profondeur dans l'intersection des défis environnementaux et de la santé mentale, fournissant aux étudiants à la fois des idées et des outils pratiques pour naviguer dans ces complexités.

À travers des discussions engageantes et des activités interactives, les participants exploreront les impacts émotionnels profonds du changement climatique, allant de l'anxiété et du désespoir à la résilience et à l'espoir. En se plongeant dans des réflexions personnelles et des expériences partagées, les étudiants acquerront une meilleure compréhension de leurs propres émotions liées au climat et de la manière dont ces sentiments s'entrecroisent avec des questions environnementales plus larges.

En outre, notre atelier dotera les étudiants de stratégies concrètes pour gérer leurs émotions liées au climat, en soulignant l'importance de l'autonomie et du bien-être face à l'incertitude. Des techniques de pleine conscience aux moyens créatifs, les participants découvriront un éventail de pratiques visant à favoriser la résilience émotionnelle et à cultiver un sentiment d'autonomie dans la gestion des problèmes liés au climat.

Suitable for Grades 4 - 12

Virtual, Tuesday June 4, 2024, 1:00 p.m. - 1:45 p.m.

Calgary Region Airshed Zone

Breathing Easy: Understanding and Improving Air Quality

Join an Air Quality Scientist and learn about the importance of air quality for human health and the environment. What is air quality, what are the health impacts of poor air quality, how do we monitor the air quality, and what can we do to help?

This will be an interactive presentation where students can ask questions and engage in discussion about air quality-related topics.

Suitable for Grades 5+

Virtual, Tuesday June 4, 2024, 10:00 a.m. - 10:30 a.m.

Calgary Wildlife Rehabilitation Society

Brainy Birds: Magpies

Discover the fascinating world of black-billed magpies. Take a closer look at how these clever corvids use their big brains to solve food problems, deal with predators, and raise a family. Learn the answers to questions like, why don't magpies fly south in the winter? What do their different calls mean?

Participants will get to see magpie artifacts, learn through visual and auditory stimulation, and leave with a clever and catchy magpie song! Let’s learn to co-exist with magpies, their problem-solving skills might come in handy.

Suitable for Grades K - 6

Virtual, Monday June 3, 2024, 2:00 p.m. - 2:45 p.m.


Bats: Furry Fliers

It’s a bird… it’s a plane…it’s a bat?

Bats make the most of their night hunts, catching some 1000 insects in an hour! How does a bat manage its heart rate to survive? How many bats species live in Alberta? What do they do in the winter? How do they hunt at night?

Experience the energy of the bat through song, dance, sounds, biofacts, and patient stories. Let’s learn to co-exist with bats, their insectivorous diet might come in handy!

Suitable for Grades K - 6


Quirky Quills: Porcupines

The North American porcupine is mostly known for its spiky defence, but there is so much more to these quirky creatures! Ever heard a porcupine sing? Discover the relationship between this herbivore and the cycles of the forest ecosystem! What does a porcupine have to do with a wildlife tree? What do we call young porcupines? How do porcupines end up at our wildlife centre?

Learn this and more in this Wild Wise presentation featuring a prickly song and poky biofacts. Let’s learn to co-exist with porcupines, their foraging habits might come in handy!

Suitable for Grades K - 6


So Stinkin’ Cute: Skunks

Stripey and cute? These nocturnal animals clean up our neighbourhoods while we sleep. Learn the answers to these questions...Do skunks really want to spray us? How many kits does a skunk family usually have? How are skunks injured in our urban environment? What are skunks trying to communicate?

Explore the nightlife of the skunk through song, dance, sounds, biofacts, and patient stories in our “So Stinkin’ Cute (Skunks) presentation. Learn how to co-exist with urban skunks, you'll be surprised how much their diets can help us out.

Suitable for Grades K - 6

The City of Calgary - Parks and Open Spaces

Beavers: Our Watershed Engineers

How can we keep water on the landscape during times of drought? Beavers can help! Learn how these watershed engineers modify ecosystems to increase biodiversity, improve water quality, and store precious fresh water in times of drought. Buck up for a presentation you can really sink your teeth into!

Suitable for Grades 4 - 6

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

Living Soil Solutions

Worms at Work!

Get up close and personal with these hardworking squiggly wriggly critters. Students will learn the difference between dirt and soil and its importance to all humans, diving into how worms are used for composting, and all the things the worms need to get busy decomposing.

Suitable for Grades K - 4

Virtual, Wednesday June 5, 2024, 10:15 a.m. - 11:15 a.m.


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 - 8

Virtual, Wednesday June 5, 2024, 1:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m.

Parks Canada

A Livestream from a Live Stream

How do you bring a river back to life when it has been a ghost of its former self for almost a century? See how Parks Canada is restoring Cascade Creek in Banff National Park through engineering, biology, and a bit of help from Mother Nature.

Suitable for Grades 4 - 9

Virtual, Monday June 3, 2024, 1:00 p.m. - 1:45 p.m.

Solar Alberta

Solar 101 in Alberta

The sun’s radiant energy can be used to provide lighting and heat for buildings and to produce electricity. It is a renewable resource and unique for its ability to generate energy in a quiet, clean, and consistent manner. In this presentation, we will review how rooftop solar installations typically work in Alberta, the growth of the solar industry, emerging trends in the industry, and how to get involved with solar energy.

Suitable for Grades 6 - 12

Virtual, Wednesday June 5, 2024, 9:00 a.m. - 10:00 a.m.

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