Conservation education at a young age plays a critical role in influencing lifelong attitudes towards the environment. But simply equipping children with knowledge isn’t enough.  To create long term behavioral change, children must be empowered to act on that knowledge. Supporting the next generation of conservationists is critical to the long-tern sustainability of our natural world.

Our work in this area is dedicated exclusively to Earth Rangers. Earth Rangers is the kids’ conservation organization, committed to instilling environmental knowledge and the confidence to take action in every child in Canada. They do this through a suite of programming that children can participate in at school, at home, and in their communities.

Founded as a small community organization in 2004, Earth Rangers has grown to be the largest youth environmental organization globally. Their members take action year-round to reduce waste and energy use, raise awareness and funds for at-risk species and habitats, and improve the ecological integrity of their homes, schools, and communities.

Canada has set the ambitious goals of conserving 25 per cent of our land and oceans by 2025 and working toward 30 per cent of each by 2030.

These goals represent not only the largest conservation opportunity in the world, but also provide a unique opportunity for Canada to become a world leader in Indigenous led conservation.

The Schad Foundation works in partnership with the federal government, indigenous governments and communities, provinces and territories and other foundations across North America to help Canada achieve this ambitious goal.

We know that too many Canadians fail to access the nutrition they need to support their health and well-being. Poor diet is the leading cause of premature death in Canada, outstripping every other risk factor including tobacco and alcohol use. Obesity rates among children and youth in Canada have nearly tripled in the last 30 years and in 2017, UNICEF ranked Canada 37th out of the 41 wealthiest nations for children’s nutrition.

Against this backdrop and motivated by a deep personal appreciation for the role nutritious food plays in our lives, The Schad Foundation invests in programs and initiatives that advance equitable access to health-promoting food.

Beyond youth environmental education, terrestrial conservation, and access to nutrition, we provide grants to qualified donees conducting work in the fields of species protection, climate change, naturopathic medicine, and other charitable purposes.