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INSPIRING THE NEXT GENERATION OF
ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDS

DISCOVERY NEVER STOPS

During the COVID-19 pandemic, we’ve suspended our community events, private events, and education programs, with the exception of the graduate program, until further notice. But, discovery never stops. For younger and older, in cities and in suburbs, there is always something new to discover about the world around us.

That’s why we’re excited to share how we’ve been working to adapt existing programs and create new opportunities for discovering, exploring, and learning together. Specifically, we’ve been focused on opportunities to support teachers, our current graduate students, and our community.

[Image description: a close up photo of two people's hands. They are filling out worksheets on clipboards.]

SUPPORTING TEACHERS

While we stay at home, protecting our communities, teachers are still hard at work facilitating learning for kids and families. As a part of the OSPI ClimeTime project, our Urban School Programs Team is developing multiple opportunities to support teachers in this work.

FREE ONLINE COURSE FOR TEACHERS

This free online course is designed to provide teachers with the resources they need to help students engage with science at home in meaningful and locally-relevant ways. The course will begin at the end of April (exact date TBD), so please let us know if you are interested in participating!

Let us know you’re interested →

WASHINGTON STATE VIRTUAL TEACHER CONFERENCE

We are thrilled to be presenting several workshops at this statewide virtual conference on April 27th and 29th, hosted by the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI).

Learn more →

[Image description: Community Education Manager Mary Meier examines a skunk cabbage plant in her local park.]

SUPPORTING OUR COMMUNITY

Though we can’t gather in person, we are working hard to create fun and informative opportunities for people of all ages to explore, learn, and connect.

50 DAYS OF DISCOVERY

Usually, right now our education programs across the region would be in full swing and each day, we’d be seeing students, educators, and community members exploring the natural world and engaging with challenges facing their environment and communities.

But even though our in-person programs are currently on pause, we are still committed to bringing this sense of discovery to our community each and every day. After all, the more we discover about the world around us, the better equipped we are to care for it – and for each other.

That’s why we were excited to bring you 50 Days of Discovery! Whether it’s a tip, a fact, an activity, or another opportunity to explore, each day will bring something new!

Learn more →

AMOROUS AMPHIBIANS

Typically one of our most highly-anticipated events of the year, we couldn’t miss out on the opportunity to explore the world of Amorous Amphibians with you – even from afar! Check out this engaging and fun video presentation from IslandWood naturalist Christina Doherty to learn more about native frogs, their calls, and habits. Then, discover how you can find breeding frogs, toads, salamanders, newts and their eggs in your backyard or nearby frog-filled wetland, pond, or puddle.

Watch now →

PHENOLOGY FRIDAY

We’re excited to announce our new series, Phenology Friday! Each week, one of IslandWood’s educators will be sharing a phenological highlight – an example of seasonal change that they are noticing in the natural world.

Learn more →

THE CITY NATURE CHALLENGE

We are thrilled to partner with the Bainbridge Island Land Trust to bring the annual City Nature Challenge bioblitz to Kitsap County for the first time! In 2019, 35,000 people across 159 cities participated in this challenge, identifying more than 963,000 observations of local wildlife over the course of the four-day challenge. This year, we invite you to join the challenge and help us represent the incredible biodiversity of our region!

Learn more →

[Image description: IslandWood graduate students, staff, and faculty members hold up "finger hearts" during a Zoom video call.]

SUPPORTING OUR GRADUATE STUDENTS

We have been busy transforming our graduate program to be entirely online for spring quarter. In collaboration with our partner, the University of Washington, our faculty and staff have developed alternative methods of learning that still honor our goals and values.

Weekly community Zoom check-ins have been helping keep our cohort connected!

Meanwhile, our Class of 2021 is starting to fill up, and we look forward to welcoming an exceptional group of students to our program in the fall! Want to learn more about the graduate program? Join us for an online information session on April 14 or a Q&A webinar featuring one of our current students on May 11!

Explore the program →

OUR APPROACH

Through experiential education, we take urgent issues and make them relevant to young people, shedding light on the power we all have to change the world for good. This approach prepares the next generation of inspired environmental problem solvers to work together to make an exponential impact on the planet, now and in the future.