Support the work that we’re doing in the community to help look after our beautiful island
Support the work that we’re doing in the community to help look after our beautiful island
Support the work that we’re doing in the community to help look after our beautiful island
Support the work that we’re doing in the community to help look after our beautiful island.
Community Education
Inspiring people to get involved, learn and discover.
We provide educational programs and activities that teach people about the natural world and encourage local citizens to reduce their ecological footprint. By offering opportunities for experiential education, we aim to support community members in developing tangible skills in sustainable living and environmental stewardship.
Current Educational Programs
Cortes Island School Sustainability Education Program
For the past several years, FOCI has partnered with the Cortes Island School to build a beautiful and productive school garden and greenhouse, and to deliver sustainability education to students. The program runs weekly throughout the school year. Grades 3-9 are responsible for the production garden, which provides food to the school’s Hot Lunch program.
From soil to seed to planting, care, and harvest, the students are engaged in the full process of growing. The K-2 grades learn in the round garden and orchard, planting, harvesting and preparing food. The senior class also buddies with the youngest class to work with them in their round garden and share their garden expertise (this goes both ways!).
Workshops and Events
Throughout the year, we coordinate a range of events, activities and workshops that respond to community needs and interests. Visit our events calendar to find out more. You can also like our Facebook page to stay informed about upcoming programs!
If you have an idea for an event or activity that you would like to see happen, please feel free to contact us at the FOCI office.
Resource Centre
A unique collection of media available for the community.
Our resource centre boasts a great resource library with a fantastic collection of books on homesteading, natural building, energy, ecology, forestry, and community organizing.
Feel free to stop by to borrow a book or check out our collection. The Resource Centre is open 1- 3 pm on Fridays (it is located behind the radio station, at the back of the Manson’s Hall parking lot).
You can also to pick up Regional Park’s pamphlets, and buy from our selection of beautiful cards, Marine Colouring Book, Three Reefs Atlas, and Cortes Island Trail map.
Watershed Sentinel Magazine
Originally started as a community newsletter on Cortes Island, the Watershed Sentinel is western Canada’s award-winning environmental news magazine, independently publishing environmental journalism since 1990. In a world where our news is increasingly controlled, the Watershed Sentinel remains the voice of the grassroots – the folks who are working on the environmental issues that face us today. FOCI regularly produces and sponsors feature articles for the Sentinel, as part of our educational programming.
Friends of Cortes Island Society (FOCI) is a charitable organization that has been active for over 25 years. Our organization exists to monitor and preserve the health of local ecosystems, and to provide educational programs that foster a greater understanding of the natural environment. Through all of our projects, we work to promote environmental integrity through community responsibility.
