School Smart Forest Program
Host a green fundraiser at your school!
The School Smart Forest Program empowers schools and students to take real climate action, raise funds for their schools and communities, and promote a generation of climate leaders through the growth of a Smart Forest.
Canadian forests play an important role in maintaining a healthy planet. Catching carbon, creating habitats for plants and animals, and cleaning the air and water are just a few of the many services a forest provides.
Fundraise and help restore thousands of acres of healthy forests with Canada’s Forest Trust (CFT).
Smart Forest Fundraising Contest!
Participate in the Smart Forest fundraising from November 20, 2023, to January 30 February 29, 2024, for a chance to win the exciting prizes listed below!
1. Student with the highest funds raised:
The student who raises the most funds by the end of the contest will win:
$1,000 Environmental Education Bursary + One (1) Carry-On Pro Monos
2. School with the most funds raised:
The school that raises the most funds by the end of the contest will win:
$1,000 Environmental & Outdoor Education Bursary + One (1) Carry-On Pro Monos
3. School Entry Prize:
All schools participating in Smart Forest Fundraising are automatically entered to win:
$150 gift card to an Outdoor Learning Store + Three (3) Metro Backpacks
The winner will be selected randomly.
4. Most Creative School Fundraiser (2 winners):
Share your creative fundraising ideas on social media (Facebook, Instagram, X, LinkedIn) using the hashtag #SchoolSmartForest and tagging @EcoSchoolsCAN and @CanadasForest for a chance to win:
One (1) Rejuvenate + One (1) Carry-On Monos
Participation is easy!
1. Join the School Smart Forest program by filling out the form below.
2. Gain access to a custom fundraising and forest-building platform.
3. Start raising money for charitable or school initiatives. Every contribution to a school fundraiser will also help plant and protect a forest.
4. Submit this initiative in the ECA under “Create your Own Action” and earn points towards your EcoSchools plan.
No need to fundraise? All funds can be allocated towards planting more seedlings and growing a bigger forest. This doubles the environmental impact of the fundraiser, increases the amount of carbon captured and boosts the protection of biodiversity!
Ready to Start Fundraising and Growing Towards a Greener Future?
Joining the School Smart Forest program is as easy as filling out our application. Once submitted, a member of the CFT team will set up your school’s fundraising page so you can start raising funds and growing a forest.
Claim points towards your EcoSchools Plan
Earn up to 5 points towards your EcoSchools certification by engaging in the Smart Forest Fundraising program.
- Register on EcoSchools Certification Application (ECA).
- On the ECA, navigate to the Action Library and select “Create your Own Action”.
- Follow our tips below to help you complete the Certification Questions for this action.
ECA Certification Questions Tips
Start filling out the certification questions to claim your School Smart Forest program. Follow our suggested answers to help you fill out the key certification questions for this action.
1. What is the name of your Action?
- If your school is hosting a fundraiser, name your action: “School Smart Forest Fundraising”.
- If your school chose to grow a forest without fundraising, name your action: “Growing a School Smart Forest”.
2. Please provide a clear description of how your school implemented this action in the current school year.
Please consider the following in your description:
- Your school’s goals through fundraising or growing a smart forest.
- How did you engage students, school staff and your community?
- How has your school contributed to the growth of the smart forest?
- Other documentation of your fundraiser. Please upload any relevant documentation in the “Action Documentation.”
3. Please describe the environmental learnings that students took away as a result of this action.
Your answer may include:
- Learning about climate change, nature’s role, Indigenous and land knowledge, sustainability, conservation…
- CFT’s School and Personal Carbon Footprint Calculators.
- CFT’s Workshops attempted by students.
Complete questions 4-10 based on the information collected from the action.
11. Did you, or any educator at your school, incorporate environmental learning related to this action into instructional time for two or more hours?
There are several ways that educators can bring learning about carbon offsets into the classroom and the CFT workshops which include:
- Climate resilience
- Urban Forests
- Sequestration of diverse tree species
- Climate impacts on urban trees
- Comparing trees in our backyards to forests
- Climate Action for Forests
- Climate and sustainability advocacy
- Combating apathy and climate grief
- Green jobs, forest careers, & guest speakers
- Forest related post-secondary courses
12. While completing the action, did you link your action to any of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)?
Actions such as “School smart Fundraiser” or “Growing a School smart Forest” can be linked to the following SDGs : Good Health and Well-being, Climate Action and Life on Land.
12b. OPTIONAL: In what ways did your action connect to the selected SDGs?
Suggestions include:
- Future Benefits of planted seeds on air, health and well-being as they grow into trees.
- Role of trees in sequestering carbon, restoring ecosystems and combating climate change effects.
- Importance of trees as wildlife habitats.
FAQ’S
About Canada’s Forest Trust
Canada’s Forest Trust (CFT) is a social enterprise that offers a nature-based solution to capture carbon by building Smart Forests™. CFT’s mission is to grow, preserve and protect millions of acres of forests worldwide in collaboration with our program participants, who include: businesses, schools, non-profit organizations, charities, communities, Indigenous communities and individuals. Our Forever Forest Guarantee™ ensures that every Smart Forest is measured, monitored and maintained following industry-leading silviculture practices. A Smart Forest is a smart investment.
How does Canada’s Forest Trust (CFT) plant and protect forests?
CFT takes a holistic approach to Smart-forestation that goes beyond the single act of planting a tree. To ensure optimized and sustainable forest health, CFT works with expert foresters scientists and Indigenous Land Knowledge Keepers to continually monitor and manage every acre they plant. Every Smart Forest is also protected forever under CFT’s Forever Forest Guarantee. CFT will inform you of the exact location of your seedlings/forest, the health of the land, the impact on biodiversity and so much more. This information is all provided through a Digital Intelligence Dashboard.
Who will be recognized when a Smart Forest is planted?
Smart Forests are planted on behalf of all contributing schools. Your school will be listed and recognized on every Smart Forest that is planted using seedlings from your fundraisers. You will receive a Smart Forest Intelligence Dashboard for every forest your school helps grow. This will keep you up to date on the growth and impact.
Will we be planting the forests ourselves?
Canada’s Forest Trust takes care of all aspects of planting and managing forests in collaboration with professional forestation partners and advisors.
How do you choose where to build a Smart Forest?
CFT sources land from across Canada and will consider the land’s history, soil type, climate and current conditions before selecting the most appropriate mix of tree species to plant. CFT will ensure that the land selected will be prepared, planted and preserved to facilitate maximum impact on the environment.
Why are you giving luggage as prizes for this contest?
The Smart Forest Fundraising Contest includes prizes such as carry-on luggage and backpacks. Monos luggage is unlike most luggage brands today because they are actively committed to reduction targets and specific action plans to reduce operational and value chain emissions within the next 12-24 months. These actions align with the Climate Neutral Standard. Monos is also a member of 1% for the Planet, where they have committed to donating 1% of their annual revenues to environmental charities like EcoSchools Canada.
Have more questions? Email them to schools@canadasforesttrust.ca and a member of the CFT team will get back to you shortly.
Created with support from Canada’s Forest Trust
