By Julia Fregonara of Nisqually River Education Project
Another crisp fall morning dawns in the Ohop Valley as Nisqually River Education Project (NREP) staff eagerly await the arrival of a school bus. When it pulls up, dozens of students spill out, forming a circle to receive their instructions for the day: restoring the delicate riparian habitat near Ohop Creek by planting native trees and shrubs.
Growing up with my roots in San Diego, CA, I was constantly surrounded by vibrant communities and playful littles. As I would assist with my mom’s art classes, workshops, and camps in an 800-square foot urban art studio starting at the impressionable age of nine, I slowly advanced my love of artful education at this young age. With the privilege of watching my mother’s role as an arts educator grow into bigger workshops and camps, I too began developing skills alongside her that would, in time, cater towards my summer job as a lead camp instructor at the age of nineteen.
By Shelley Barker, Director of School Engagement, Outdoor Schools WA
“Teaching children about the natural world should be treated as one of the most important events in their lives.”
—Thomas Berry
When Outdoor Schools WA (OSWA) formed three years ago, the team decided on a marker for our success: we would know we’d done our job well when every student in Washington had the opportunity to spend a fully-funded week at high quality outdoor schools during their 5th or 6th grade year. We also acknowledged that achieving this overarching goal would involve a lot more than simply distributing subsidies. We’d need to support teachers and administrators in school buildings. We’d need to work with existing sites and emerging sites across the state. We’d need to create an expectation of excellent pedagogical practices, standards aligned lessons, and inclusivity. It’s a tall order we’ve made for ourselves! This year’s work took us closer to our goal…
With spring in full bloom and the sun shining brighter, it's time to dust off those bikes and celebrate National Bike Month this May in Washington! Biking isn't just about getting from point A to B—it's a powerful tool for environmental education and youth empowerment. By choosing pedal power over motor vehicles, we can encourage young people in mitigating climate change and preserving the natural habitats that define our beloved state.
At the heart of Earth Day is the drive toward individual and collective action to care for the Earth and the systems that humans and all life depend on for air, water, food, and green space.
Did you know that Washington has learning standards designed to engage our students in exploring, understanding, and taking action to solve environmental problems in their communities? Washington’s K-12 Integrated Environmental and Sustainability Education Learning Standards are under revision and should be adopted and released in late 2024. Meanwhile, check out the state Environmental and Sustainability Literacy Plan. The goal of the plan is to ensure that our students have the ability and mindset to take individual and collective action that addresses environmental problems in their communities.
When I moved to Washington three years ago with no job and minimal connections, I was eager to explore what folks were doing around here towards environmental and sustainability education. I discovered E3 Washington and after connecting with then co-chair, Sylvia Hadnot, I knew I wanted to get involved. But how? As an established outdoor educator with a budding interest in politics and policy, the Catalyst Committee stood out as a place where I could facilitate long-lasting, systemic change in the industry. At the start of 2023, I raised my hand to help chair these efforts.
The purpose of this resource is to educate readers on the prevalence of prejudice and implicit bias in society, including information about what marginalized groups are most likely to be harmed by prejudice. The resource features information about how one can be an ally and an advocate for change, as well as how people experiencing discrimination can build resilience against these types of behaviors.
After the winter solstice in December, we gain 2 minutes of daylight until mid-February, when the gains turn to 3 minutes. In late April to early May, we gain 2 minutes per day again until we reach the summer solstice in late June.
What does this mean for our lives? Well, for those who need vitamin D in the shape of sunshine, we get to spend a little more time outside! Family, friends, and our communities, this is something to celebrate. If you have never created a calendar of games, “The Days Are Getting Longer” is a fresh educational take on learning about our solstice. That new calendar you received in December may have cute new puppies or national parks each month; I forgot we use our phones nowadays. For this purpose, it might even work better.
Every ten days, mark a reminder or place it on your calendar to do something fun with family and friends.
With little advance notice, and shortly after back to school, I was following up on a whim. A reporter wanted to talk to a student leader I know about how the youth climate movement’s success in getting their city to declare a climate emergency led to a campaign I’ve been running called Kicking Gas, which helps homes transition from combustion fuels for home heating to efficient ductless heat pumps.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced $375 million in funding through President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law for new recycling, reuse and waste prevention programs. The Agency published three Requests for Information seeking input on the design of these new materials management initiatives, the first step in the process to implement the largest EPA investment in recycling in 30 years.