Volunteers/Interns
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Program Requirements
The Graduate Residency in Education, Environment and Community at IslandWood (EEC) offers students a unique opportunity to combine academic coursework with teaching experiences in programs on campus and in Puget Sound-area elementary and middle schools. This structure enables students to practically apply the knowledge and skills they develop in the classroom and field, and continually assess the effectiveness of their teaching techniques.
Two Week Sample Schedule
Graduate students alternate one week of active teaching in the School Overnight Program with a week of academic study and working with partner schools, emphasizing the importance of balance between theory and practice.
Week 1: Teaching Week
| Monday | Tuesday | Wednesday | Thursday | Friday |
| School Arrives Teaching in School Overnight Program |
Teaching in School Overnight Program |
Teaching in School Overnight Program |
Teaching in School Overnight Program School Departure Debrief Meeting 6:00-8:30 Class #1 |
9:30-12:30 Class #2 1:30-4:00 Class #3 |
Week 2: Non Teaching Week
| Monday | Tuesday | Wednesday | Thursday | Friday |
| Work with Partner Schools Academic Study |
Work with Partner Schools Academic Study |
Work with Partner Schools Academic Study |
9:30-12:00 Class Lab 3:00-5:00 Class #4 6:00-8:30 Class #1 |
9:30-12:30 Class #2 1:30-4:00 Class #3 |
Wilderness First Aid and CPR
All IslandWood field instructors are required to be certified in Wilderness First Aid and CPR (or higher). For those without certification, we arrange for a 24-hour course, which takes place during orientation, that prepares our educators to deal with emergency care until trained professionals arrive. (2010 tuition: $195)
Academic Requirements
EEC students complete academic and teaching requirements which include a full academic load each quarter of the ten-month program. The order of these courses may be subject to change.
Click here for Course Descriptions.
Teaching Requirements
Graduate students must fulfill IslandWood teaching requirements in order to graduate from the program. Each month, graduate students teach two weeks in the School Overnight Program and, in addition, make a minimum of one visit to classrooms through the School Partnerships Program.
Teaching in IslandWood’s School Overnight Program
Each week, approximately 100 Puget Sound area school children come to IslandWood for immersion in experientially-based education. Our goal is to teach children about Puget Sound's natural and cultural history, and to inspire environmental and community stewardship. This program incorporates the disciplines of math, reading, science, writing, social studies, physical education, the arts and technology.
Liaison Duties
The School Partnerships Program introduces residential graduate students to formal teaching within public and private schools in the Puget Sound region. Graduate students visit classrooms, in advance of the school's visit to IslandWood, to prepare students and teachers for their experience. Following the school's residency at IslandWood, graduate students and staff follow up with the students to reinforce learning and to identify a community project that connects the IslandWood experience to their own community. This service learning project nurtures stewardship and allows the learning at IslandWood to extend far beyond the four-day experience.
