🌿Cultivating the Next Generation of Environmental Leaders — One Caterpillar at a Time

How do you cultivate the next generation of environmental and community leaders?

At EcoSpark, we use a three-part formula: one part science, one part nature, and one part inspiration! Our staff and volunteers bring environmental education to life in communities with the greatest need—both socio-economic and environmental—building the knowledge and skills that change lives.

Citizen Science in Action: Caterpillars Count!

EcoSpark’s Citizen Science Program Manager, Dana Buchbinder, leads projects that connect local action to global environmental science. One of our favourites is Caterpillars Count!, a citizen science project that studies the relationship between migratory birds and the arthropods—caterpillars, beetles, spiders, and other small insects—they depend on to feed their young.

When the timing of spring leaf-out and insect hatching align, birds thrive. When it doesn’t, their young may go hungry. Understanding this delicate balance helps us track the effects of climate change and biodiversity loss in our own backyards.

The Extraordinary Caterpillar Documentary

Recently, EcoSpark participated in the production of The Extraordinary Caterpillar, a new documentary by Jeff McKay and TVO. This stunning one-hour film celebrates the unsung heroes of biodiversity—caterpillars—and the scientists, educators, and citizen scientists who study them.

“We’re always talking about amazing creatures that are far away, when there are extraordinary caterpillars right in our own backyards,” says Sam Jaffe of The Caterpillar Lab.

Featuring voices from the Royal Ontario Museum, EcoSpark educators, and young biologists rearing monarch butterflies in Toronto, the documentary highlights the beauty, diversity, and importance of insects to our ecosystems.

Watch it here: The Extraordinary Caterpillar – TVO Documentary

Did you know a single chickadee chick feeds on 300–500 caterpillars per day? That’s up to 8,000 caterpillars before the fledglings even leave the nest! With global insect populations declining by as much as 30%, the stakes couldn’t be higher—for birds, biodiversity, and all of us.

In The Extraordinary Caterpillar, you’ll see students learning outdoors with EcoSpark, exploring biodiversity firsthand, and discovering that leadership begins with curiosity.

Join EcoSpark’s Walk on the Wild Side!

You can be part of this learning movement by donating to support EcoSpark’s Walk on the Wild Side campaign.

Your gift will help bring outdoor science education to students across the GTA—creating opportunities for young people to connect with nature and take action for biodiversity.