Programs that provide information and guidance for people who want to protect the soil, water, air, plant and animal resources in their own backyards or in outdoor settings at school or work. Included may be tips for improving soil using composting, mulching and other techniques; managing nutrients and pests; implementing water conservation practices; restoring native vegetation; selecting a site for and planting trees for shade and wildlife habitat; establishing backyard ponds or wetlands systems; developing basking sites; and providing feeders, bird baths, nesting boxes, roosting boxes and other accoutrements that attract birds, butterflies, frogs, insect-eating bats and other small mammals to a backyard setting.

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Programs that are responsible for the conservation, protection, care and management of fish and wildlife resources and their habitats.

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Programs that provide a mechanism for the public to report sightings of potentially dangerous animals such as bears and mountain lions, either in urban areas or close to commonly-used public trails; and/or which issue bulletins to notify the public that such sightings or actual attacks have occurred and advise the public to take suitable precautions.

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Programs that are designed to increase public awareness of the measures people can take to ensure their own safety and that of their children and pets (as well as the animals themselves) when dealing with alligators, bears, bobcats, urban dwelling coyotes, mountain lions, raccoons and other wildlife that are encountered in the urban environment, in parks and forests, on hiking trails and in other settings. Included are general wildlife safety programs and those that deal with a specific type of wildlife.

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Programs that offer guided or self-guided walks or drives through parks, beach areas, wildlife preserves and other natural settings to acquaint participants with particular aspects of their environment and to increase their understanding of and appreciation for ecological balance.

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Programs that offer open-air learning experiences, particularly for schoolchildren, that promote appreciation for and understanding of local ecosystems and our fundamental connections to the world around us. Activities may include identification of plants, insects and animals and exploration of their habitats, learning about weather and its relationship to environmental processes, geological history and demonstrations of the importance of biodiversity and sustainability. Students may investigate the life cycles of animals in a pond; observe the growth and reproduction of common plant species; examine the form and function of leaves, stems, roots and flowers and how these features help to classify plants; consider the interrelationship between predator and prey; learn how different animals grow and change with the seasons; learn and practice compass navigation and other outdoor skills; and/or make other discoveries which foster engaged and responsible environmental citizenship. Outdoor education programs may be provided through schools, conservation authorities or other organizations and depending on the program and the materials they incorporate, parents and/or caregivers may have a role to play in the process.

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