Hands-on soil science for children and curious adults. Because the most important ecosystem on Earth is the one beneath your feet
Most people have walked past it every day of their lives without once stopping to wonder what was inside it.
Soil. The ground. Dirt, as most people call it.
But it is not dirt. In one teaspoon of healthy soil, there are more living organisms than there are people on Earth. Bacteria. Fungi. Protozoa. Nematodes. Earthworms. A whole, invisible, interdependent universe working constantly, quietly, to sustain every plant, every crop, every living thing above ground.
And it is storing carbon. Right now. Under every field, every garden, every park. Soil holds three times more carbon than the entire atmosphere. It is one of the most powerful climate tools we have and almost no one knows it.
The Soil Academy exists to change that.
WHAT IS THE SOIL ACADEMY?
The Soil Academy is a hands-on science education experience designed for children ages 8 to 12 and curious adults. Created by Bernice Richard biochemist, Cornell-certified soil health specialist, and GHG auditor, it brings the biology and chemistry of soil to life in a way that is accessible, exciting, and deeply relevant to the world we are living in right now.
This is not a lecture. It is an experience. Participants see living soil organisms under a real digital microscope. They hold earthworms and observe how they process soil. They test real samples from different locations. They learn how soil talks to the sky and what that means for climate change, food security, and the land we all depend on.
Every session is designed around one big idea that a child can carry home and a parent can build on. Every session earns a passport stamp toward a Soil Scientist certificate. Every session leaves participants seeing the ground beneath their feet differently than they did when they walked in.
July 2026 Sessions – Regina Central Library
SESSION 1
The Living World
Friday, July 11, 2025 | 2:00 PM | Regina Central Library
Ages 8 to 12. Drop-off welcome.
In this session, children discover what is actually living inside soil. Under a real digital microscope, they see bacteria, fungi, and protozoa moving in real time. They investigate earthworms up close, test soil samples from across Regina, and map the underground food web that feeds every plant on Earth.
What children take home:
- A Soil Superhero Explorer Passport (stamped at each station)
- A Food Web activity sheet they completed
- A half-stamp toward their Soil Scientist Level 1 Certificate
- A parent take-home sheet with one backyard soil activity
Investment: $25 per child
SESSION 2
Soil and the Sky
Friday, July 25, 2025 | 2:00 PM | Regina Central Library
Ages 8 to 12. Drop-off welcome.
In this session, children explore the chemistry of soil and its relationship to the atmosphere. They test real soil samples for pH and organic matter. They see a live demonstration of carbon capture in action. They learn why healthy soil is one of the most powerful climate tools on Earth and what they can do to protect it.
What children take home:
- A Soil Scientist Field Notebook with a backyard soil test protocol
- Their completed pH and soil health test results
- A full Soil Scientist Level 1 Certificate (for those who attended both sessions)
- A new certificate for first-time attendees who complete all stations
Investment: $25 per child
The Soil Scientist Certificate
The Soil Academy runs on a level system. Each session is a complete experience on its own, but they are also building blocks.
Children who attend The Living World on July 11th receive a half-stamp toward their Soil Scientist Level 1 Certificate. Children who return for Soil and the Sky on July 25th complete their certificate and receive it at the end of the session.
New children joining on July 25th for the first time receive their own complete session experience and a certificate for that session.
In August, Level 2 sessions go deeper. The certificate journey continues. A child who attends every session through the year will have moved through two complete levels of soil science, with the knowledge to show for it.
Why This Matters
We are living through a moment when the health of our land has never been more urgent. Across the Canadian prairies, soil degradation is accelerating. Topsoil is being lost to erosion, compaction, and chemical dependency. And most people including most decision-makers have no idea what healthy soil even looks like, let alone what it does.
Soil holds three times more carbon than the entire atmosphere. When it is healthy, it pulls carbon out of the air and stores it underground. When it is degraded, it releases that carbon back. The difference between healthy soil and damaged soil is not abstract. It is measurable. It is visible. And it starts with someone deciding to pay attention.
The Soil Academy is built on the belief that the best place to start is with a curious child pressing their face toward a microscope and asking: what is that moving?
Because that child grows up. And the questions they ask as adults about land use, about food systems, about what we owe to the ground beneath us are shaped by what they were allowed to wonder about when they were young.
This is why I do this work.
– Bernice Richard
Founder, The Soil Academy | Biochemist | Cornell Advanced Soil Health Certificate | GHG Auditor | Author
About Your Facilitator
Bernice Richard is a biochemist, Cornell-certified soil health specialist, GHG auditor, project management professional, and children’s book author based in Saskatchewan.
She is the founder of Noc & Bez , an creative company built around nurturing people, business and land through publishing, mentorship and now an academy. She holds a Cornell University Advanced Soil Health Certificate, a GHG Auditor certification from SGS, and a PMP designation, and spent nearly a decade building agricultural technology before turning her attention to public soil science education.
She is also a mother of two boys who have never once looked at a handful of dirt the same way twice.
The Soil Academy is where her science, her storytelling, and her belief in the next generation all come together.
Awards and recognition include:
- Queen Elizabeth II Platinum Jubilee Medal (2023)
- YWCA Women of Distinction Innovator Award (2023)
- Black Excellence Gala Woman of Excellence (2023)
- Canada’s Top 100 Black Women to Watch (2022)
Questions
What age is this for?
Sessions are designed for children ages 8 to 12. Children on either side of this range are welcome at a parent’s discretion the content is rich enough for curious 7-year-olds and engaging enough for 13 and 14-year-olds who love science.
Is this a drop-off session?
Yes. Drop-off is welcome. Parents may also stay if they prefer we just ask that attending parents let the children lead their own experience. Many parents find they learn just as much as their kids.
Do children need any science background?
None at all. Every session starts from zero and builds from there. The only requirement is curiosity.
What if my child attended the July 11th session do they need to attend July 25th?
No. Each session is a complete experience on its own. Children who attend both sessions earn a full Soil Scientist Level 1 Certificate, but attending one session is fully satisfying and worthwhile on its own.
Is there a sibling discount?
Yes – register two children from the same family and the second child attends at $15. Contact [email protected] to arrange.
Will you be running more sessions after July?
Yes. August sessions are being finalized now. Sign up below to be notified when new dates are released.
Do you offer school visits or private group sessions?
Yes. If you are a teacher, homeschool group organizer, or parent group looking for a private session, reach out at [email protected] to discuss availability and pricing.
Are sessions accessible for children with sensory sensitivities?
Sessions involve handling soil and worms, which some children may find challenging. If your child has sensory sensitivities, please email ahead and we will discuss accommodations. Observation-only participation is always welcome.
Stay in the Loop
August sessions and new programming announcements go out by email first. Drop your name and email below and you will be the first to know when new dates are released.
Get in Touch
For school visits, private group bookings, corporate workshops, or any questions about The Soil Academy:
Email: [email protected]
Response time is typically within 24 to 48 hours.
The Soil Academy is a program of Noc & Bez | Regina, Saskatchewan