April 8, 2026

The power of A.P.E. Fund: Building a better future, one schoolyard at a time

Photo: Heather Gagnier

Across the country, young leaders are stepping forward and taking action for animals, people, and the environment – and our A.P.E. Fund ensures they have the resources they need to keep leading the way.

Last year, 45 students from Burnaby, British Columbia came together and extended the school’s native plant restoration garden. Located along the sidewalk in front of the schoolyard, teachers involved in the project said this was “the best place to have conversations with neighbours and inspire change in our neighbourhood.”

The students were involved in the planning, preparation, and planting of this site. They were able to learn about the role that native plants and insects play in an ecosystem, and they participated in biodiversity counts and observations.

“We found great value in learning the names of plants and animals in our environment,” one of the teachers involved said. “With the naming, labour, planting, caretaking, and observing, we found that students built connection with the place and the life that resides there.”

The students felt that connection, too. “I never knew there was so much life in our schoolyard,” one of the fifth grade students said. “I just walked over it all the time! When you look closely, there are so many things going on around us every day.”

That’s the power of the A.P.E. Fund and Roots & Shoots. When young people have the support, the tools, and the space to engage with the natural world around them, they don’t just learn about the environment – they see how they are part of it.

This kind of story, from schoolyards across the country, is what the Jane Goodall Institute of Canada is proud to champion. To learn more about the A.P.E. Fund and how we can support these kinds of projects with your help, go to APEFund.ca.