Our Mission

The Echo Pond Environmental Education Centre is about giving opportunities for children and young people connect with the natural world while also building friendships and creating lifelong memories.

Mandate and Program

The mandate of the Environmental Education Commission (EEC) is to run the Echo Pond Environmental Education Centre. The Centre is located in a wilderness setting in the boreal forest of the Avalon Peninsula, about 100km from St. John’s. The Centre includes two main buildings, a network of trails, a ‘kitchen’ garden, a wetland boardwalk, and two wind turbines. From May- June and September-November of each year, school classes visit the centre with their teachers for 2-day, overnight field trips. The Centre’s education team leads students through rich, outdoor, hands-on learning activities. We also run Echo Pond Summer Camp each July and August.

Environmental Responsibility

Our ethic of environmental responsibility is key to all of our programs, both the School Program and Echo Pond Summer Camp. The Centre is a role model of sustainability: it is off the grid and provides most of its electricity through wind turbines and solar power. There is a sustainable food policy that includes sourcing local food, including from the on-site garden. Additionally, we teach about local ecology, ecosystems and climate change; and promote the Leave No Trace outdoor ethic.