Request for Proposals (RFP) 
External Evaluation of the Future Leaders Education Portfolio 
Issued by: Biosphere Institute of the Bow Valley 

About the Biosphere Institute 
The Biosphere Institute of the Bow Valley is a registered charity dedicated to empowering environmental stewardship through education and community action. Our Future Leaders programs inspire young people to understand, appreciate, and care for the ecosystems and communities of the Canadian Rockies through meaningful, place-based learning experiences. 

The Future Leaders portfolio currently includes: 

• Future Leaders – curriculum-connected environmental education programming for Kindergarten through Grade 12 students. 
• Future Leaders Youth Council – an after-school environmental leadership program for youth. 
• Ways of the Bison – our flagship experiential learning program exploring the ecological, cultural, and historical significance of bison through interdisciplinary learning and  collaboration with Indigenous partners and Knowledge Keepers. The program is concluding its current three-year funding cycle from the National Science and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC), creating an ideal opportunity to evaluate its impacts and inform future growth. 

Additional information about these programs can be found at:

• www.biosphereinstitute.org/futureleaders 
• www.biosphereinstitute.org/future-leaders-youth-council
• www.biosphereinstitute.org/ways-of-the-bison

Project Overview 
The Biosphere Institute invites proposals from experienced evaluators to conduct a comprehensive external evaluation of the Future Leaders education portfolio.

We are seeking an evaluator who can serve as both an objective assessor and a thoughtful strategic partner—someone who can help us understand not only whether our programs are achieving their intended outcomes, but how they can evolve to maximize their long-term impact.

The evaluation should examine the effectiveness of the portfolio as a whole while also providing an assessment of the Ways of the Bison program at the conclusion of its three-year funding cycle through NSERC.

This evaluation will inform future program planning, organizational strategy, funding applications, communications, and partnerships.

Beyond measuring outcomes, we hope this evaluation tells the story of how Future Leaders is influencing young people, educators, and communities. We are looking for an evaluator who will help us identify our strengths, challenge our assumptions, and provide thoughtful recommendations that position Future Leaders to thrive for years to come.  

Complete RFP in the attached PDF document. Alternatively reach out to Heidi Widmer, education@biosphereinstitute.org