Oil sands tour: opportunity for teachers to learn first-hand

For the first time in a decade an Alberta-based charity will be offering teachers from across the country tours of oil sands operations in the province.

Inside Education, which has been around since 1985, usually operates a couple of tours each year for Alberta-based teachers.

But this summer, from July 9-14, it will operate tours for 40 high school teachers from across Canada. Half of these teachers will be from Alberta while the other 20 will be coming in from various parts of the country.

“We’re going to try and get it as balanced geographically as we can,” said Steve McIsaac, Inside Education’s executive director.

Inside Education currently has 15 staff members, working out of their two offices, which are located in Edmonton and Calgary.

This summer’s tour for teachers will run out of Fort McMurray. Besides visiting some yet-to-be-determined First Nations officials in northeastern Alberta, those on the tour will meet with officials from environmental groups and tour both in-situ developments and open-pit mines.

McIsaac said besides the 20 Alberta teachers an original goal was to try and get two teachers from every province and the territories to attend.
“So far though there has been significant interest from Ontario and the Northwest Territories,” McIsaac said.

“We’re well over 100 (applications) for the 40 spots,” he said. “We know teachers are hungry for this information.”

Inside Education provides what it calls “full scholarships” to those teachers who attend the tour. In essence it is an all-expenses paid trip, including transportation to Alberta.
“But the teachers are giving up a week of their precious summer,” McIsaac said. “Nobody is making them come.”
McIsaac believes the tour is beneficial for those who attend.

“It allows the teachers to experience the oil sands first hand and to meet with experts,” he said.

The goal is then to pass on any information that is learned to their students, upon their return to the classroom.

“We want to encourage their students to be critical thinkers,” McIsaac said.
Inside Education was originally called the Friends of Environmental Education Society of Alberta when it was formed in 1985. Its name was changed in 2004.

Inside Education is currently funded through a variety of sources, including the provincial government, industry representatives and non-for-profit foundations.

In an effort to prevent skepticism about the message Inside Education is delivering, McIsaac said officials discuss where they get their money right off the bat.
“We’re very upfront about our funding sources,” he said.
“It’s a learning experience. Teachers have a chance to form their own opinion of what they think about it.”

And then when the teachers return to their classrooms - sometimes with curriculum materials developed by Inside Education - the goal is to have students formulate their own thoughts.