Environmental SHSM
Students acquire the sector-specific knowledge and technical skills required to earn their Ontario Secondary Diploma (OSSD) SHSM red seal in Environment by completing its five required components with the additional opportunity to connect experiences to earn the Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award.
How you can link your SHSM experiences with Award Canada:
Environmental certifications, outdoor learning, species identification, sustainability projects, and hands-on experiences such as habitat restoration, field studies, and environmental research activities.
Example SMART Goal: For the semester, through my SHSM sector focus in Environment, I will complete training, certifications and experiences to improve my understanding and skills in environmental science, studies, recreation, tourism, and policy.
Example Assessor: Industry Partner delivering training e.g. Growing Chefs
Example log for ORB: Today I went and learned about raised garden beds, worms and soil classification to improve food systems. I have never grown my own food, but feel like I have a better understanding of how to get started.
Physical outdoor activities such as hiking, trail work, field exploration, conservation projects, and hands-on environmental tasks that build endurance in natural settings.
Example SMART Goal: For the next 13 weeks, I will walk an hour each day to improve my athletic ability when we go on a longer hike. My goal is to be in better shape so I can excel on the hike.
Example Assessor: Trail guide or SHSM lead
Example log for ORB: Today I walked for one hour on the trails. I found this more challenging than the sidewalks I am not use to ups and downs.
Example SMART Goal: I will volunteer to support environmental community cleanup to remove garbage and waste for a couple hours every two weeks I want to improve the appearance and health of our local community so people can enjoy it more.
Example Assessor: City Leader hosting Community Cleanup
Example log for ORB: Today I learned about how to safely remove garbage like wearing gloves and using tongs to avoid contact with waste. I had no idea how much garbage was in our community and how the city works to keep spaces clean.
(Completed as a team over 2 days and 1 night. Your team will plan, do, and review the journey together—learning through teamwork, challenge, and reflection.)
General Activity Description:
An environmental exploration where your team travels on foot through natural areas such as forests, conservation lands, or parks. You’ll learn about ecosystems, practice outdoor skills like navigation and survival, explore plant and wildlife identification, and reflect on the importance of protecting natural environments.
Example Team SMART Goal (Bronze – 2 Days, 1 Night):
As a team, we’ll complete a 2-day journey hiking through a natural area and identifying key plant and animal species along the way. We’ll document what we learn about ecosystems and environmental stewardship, and reflect together on how we worked as a team to plan and complete the journey.
Example Assessor/Supervisor:
Hike Ontario, SHSM Lead Teacher, or Approved Award Leader
Example Group Debrief (Progress-Focused):
Spending time in nature helped us better understand how ecosystems are connected and why environmental protection matters. We improved our teamwork by sharing roles like navigation and observation. Next time, we’d prepare more ahead of time by learning key species and planning our route more carefully.
Career Pathways
- Landscape and horticulture technicians and specialists 2225
- Biological technologists and technicians 2221
- Chemical technologists and technicians 2211
- Civil engineering technologists and technicians 2231
- Conservation officers and fishery officers 2224
- Forestry professionals 2122
- Forestry technologists and technicians 2223
- Geological and mineral technologists and technicians 2212
- Landscape and horticulture technicians and specialists 2225
- Managers in aquaculture 0823
- Silviculture and forestry workers 8422
- Technical occupations in geomatics and meteorology 2255
- Biologists and related scientists 2121
- Chemical engineers 2134
- Civil engineers 2131
- Forestry professionals 2122
- Geological engineers 2144
- Geoscientists and oceanographers 2113
- Landscape architects 2152
- Meteorologists and climatologists 2114
- Natural and applied science policy researchers, consultants, and program officers 4161
- Urban and land use planners 2153
- Material handlers 7452
- Outdoor sport and recreational guides 6532
- Silviculture and forestry workers 8422
- Water and waste treatment plant operators 9443
