About Us
OVERVIEW
We create experiences that help students and educators understand their environment and discover the impact they can have on their world and their community.
IslandWood’s mission is to provide exceptional learning experiences that inspire lifelong environmental and community stewardship.
Our place-based, experiential learning programs on Bainbridge Island, in Woodinville, and in Seattle serve more than 12,000 students every year. We deepen our impact by co-developing science curriculum with Seattle Public Schools, providing teacher training, offering a Master’s level graduate program in education, and through advocacy.
Our public events and programs, meeting and retreat
business, and summer camps reach an additional 9,000 people annually, many of whom participate in programming designed to unlock curiosity and understanding about our environment and our world.
IslandWood is a registered 501c3 charitable organization. Learn how you can support our work and sign up for our monthly email to stay connected.
WHERE WE WORK
Our programs take place on our 250-acre campus on Bainbridge Island, at the Brightwater Wastewater Treatment Plant in Woodinville, and in Seattle classrooms and neighborhoods.
Islandwood acknowledges that we live and work on the ancestral land of the Coast Salish people, who have been stewards of this region’s land and waters since time immemorial. While the majority of our work takes place on Suquamish and Duwamish land, we also conduct programs on the land of the Snohomish, Puyallip, Muckleshoot, Skokomish, and S’Klallam people.
IslandWood is proud to partner with King County to provide education programs for 3rd-8th grade classrooms, teachers, and the community at the Brightwater Education Center, a state-of-the-art facility attached to King County’s newest and most innovative wastewater treatment plant.
Brightwater is located at 22505 St. Route 9 SE, Woodinville, WA (directions).
We deliver education programming for 4th grade classrooms at the Thornton Creek Water Quality Channel, High Point Community Development, and Mapes Creek at Beer Sheva Park.
Our Seattle office – located at 810 Third Avenue, Suite 236 in the historic Central Building – is the administrative hub for our Urban School Programs team.
COMMITMENT TO EQUITY
We are striving to embed equity and justice into our work and operations.
CLIMATE CHANGE STATEMENT
We believe that climate change is one of the most urgent issues facing our planet.
CAREERS AND CULTURE
Are you passionately curious about the world around you? Do you share a commitment to education, equity, and the environment?
ADVOCACY
IslandWood advocates for public policy solutions which advance education that fosters a deeper understanding of our environment and inspires every student to take action.
The following four priorities guide our advocacy work:
- Integrate community connected environmental learning into public education
- Foster equitable access to learning experiences outside the classroom
- Increase diversity in the education, science, and environmental fields
- Cultivate sustainable cities through education
Our focus areas include:
- NGSS/Climate Science Funding: In the 2018 legislative session, IslandWood helped secure first-of-its-kind funding for community-based organizations to support schools by providing teacher training in connecting the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) to real world environmental/climate issues. In 2019, we successfully worked with partners to maintain this crucial funding for a second year.
- Amplifying Teacher Voices: As we advocate for this NGSS funding, we are amplifying teacher voice to help build support for place-based environmental learning in K-12 education.
- Residential Environmental Education Funding: IslandWood supports state funding for public schools using Residential Environmental Learning Centers (RELCs) like IslandWood’s School Overnight Program (SOP). While it isn’t guaranteed to be on the table this session, there may be an opportunity to work with the Governor’s office and other RELCs to start building a more unified effort towards state funding opportunities.
- No Child Left Inside (NCLI) support: As a member of the NCLI steering committee, IslandWood is supporting key efforts to ensure funding is maintained and improved for NCLI.
Check out our blog for the latest news on our advocacy efforts.
- Renewed Funding for Climate Science and Teacher Training
In 2019, IslandWood received its second grant from the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction’s (OSPI) ClimeTime program to continue our teacher workshops and school-based supports. We are proud to continue our advocacy for the ClimeTime initiative, which University of Washington College of Education calls “the most ambitious statewide climate science education initiative in the U.S.” - $1 million for NGSS-Aligned, Community-Connected Learning
In 2018, the Washington state legislature passed $4 million dollars in the state’s supplemental budget for Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) teacher training and support. Of that, $1 million was specifically allocated for nonprofits to partner with school districts to support NGSS-aligned, community-connected environmental learning. We are proud to have led the effort to secure this funding, as it is truly a first-of-its-kind innovation and an acknowledgement that community-based nonprofits, like IslandWood, are critical partners for improving educational outcomes for children and the environmental health of our state. Learn more - Celebrating the Signing of No Child Left Inside
In May 2015, the No Child Left Inside Act was signed into law by Governor Jay Inslee. IslandWood was proud to partner with a variety of nonprofit organizations and business to support this important bill, which provides funding to increase access to outdoor education and recreation programs for Washington’s youth.
IslandWood is proud to work alongside Washington state elected officials, like-minded organizations, and leaders in the field to advance innovation and equity in environmental education, including OSPI, E3 Washington, Pacific Education Institute, and Washington Green Schools.
Check back in to find out how you can get involved with our advocacy work!
LEARN MORE
Explore these resources to learn more about our work and impact.
CONNECT WITH US
