At BEST our students are connected to the larger scientific community through mentorship and partnering opportunities with organizations such as The Big Little Science Centre, The McQueen Lake Enviromental Centre, Thompson Rivers University, Ducks Unlimited, The City of Kamloops, and The BC Wildlife Park. We strive to access key community spaces - natural areas, wetlands and grasslands - to enhance the educational experience for our students. Of particular importance is linking our students to our local First Nations community groups, with the intent of integrating authentic Aboriginal content into all areas of school life.