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The Trailhead: Spending a Week with the IslandWood School Overnight Program

IslandWood Board Member, David Wu, recently spent a week with IslandWood...

EXPLORING CULTURAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP AT SUQUAMISH MUSEUM & GROVERS CREEK HATCHERY

Recently, our Urban School Program (USP) team set out on a memorable day...

MAPLE ELEMENTARY’S EXPERIENCE ON THE DUWAMISH RIVER

For millennia, Coast Salish peoples lived in relationship with Seattle’s...

Greyson Empowers Students Through Education and Outdoor Leadership

Meet Greyson Lee, EEC Class of 2023 graduate, who has embarked on a uniq...

ISLANDWOOD CHAMPIONS JUSTICE-CENTERED EDUCATION AT TWO CONFERENCES

This October, IslandWood's faculty contributed presentations at two impa...

ISLANDWOOD AT WSTA: MAKING SCIENCE RELEVANT TO STUDENTS’ LIVES

At this year’s Washington Science Teachers Association (WSTA) conference...

Rach’s Quest to Create a Thriving Classroom

Rach Brennan, IslandWood Class of 2023, shares how her experiences are s...

Art, Science, and Climate Justice Education

This fall, our graduate curriculum includes a new course: Art, Science, ...

Sam Rubin Blends Passion and Purpose in San Francisco

It's always inspiring to hear from IslandWood alumni from our graduate p...

BACK TO SCHOOL WITH THE SCHOOL OVERNIGHT PROGRAM

The week of September 16th saw the return of our School Overnight Progra...

Kicking Off with Connection: IslandWood Grads Build a Community

The EEC class of 2025 is kicking off their IslandWood journey with inten...

From EEC to the Summit: Amos Pomp’s Journey at High Mountain Institute

Amos Pomp, a recent graduate of the EEC class of 2023, is reaching new h...

APPRECIATION TAPS, AKA “TAP-PRECIATIONS”

IslandWood Staff Instructor Talia Schmitt, shares how she leads an appre...

LOCALIZING SCIENCE TAKES ROOT AT ISLANDWOOD: YEAR THREE KICKS OFF

We were thrilled to welcome a new cohort of passionate educators from ac...

A YEAR OF ARTISTIC EXPLORATION AND WHAT’S NEXT

Our Artist in Residence program has been a cornerstone of IslandWood’s e...

GROWING FORWARD: MEL CHURCH’S FRESH TAKE ON ISLANDWOOD’S GARDEN

Looking back on our most recent summer camp season, it felt fitting to r...

SUMMER CAMP SUPERNOVA: NEW ACTIVITIES, SAME FUN!

As IslandWood camps wrap up this summer, I wanted to reflect on what I b...

A SUMMER OF UNFORGETTABLE ADVENTURES

This summer was one for the books at IslandWood summer camps!

VOICES FROM THE FIELD AT ISLANDWOOD

In June, we welcomed students to our Bainbridge campus for the Voices fr...

EXPLORING EMERSON ELEMENTARY’S GREEN SCHOOLYARD

Recently, Emerson Elementary School hosted a tour of their green schooly...

TEAMWORK ON THE TEAMS COURSE

Teamwork and problem-solving skills are an essential part of any IslandW...

WADE IN THE GARDEN

At IslandWood, Wade was created to serve as the food waste station where...

SOIL TO SNACK

Soil to Snack is a lesson for students participating in our School Overn...

COMING BACK TO ISLANDWOOD

Riley Hill first came to IslandWood as a 5th grade student in our School...

FEATURING ARTIST IN RESIDENCE, KAMYAR MOHSENIN

Kamyar Mohsenin recently came to our campus to work with School Overnigh...

EMBRACING URBAN BIODIVERSITY: REFLECTIONS ON CITY NATURE CHALLENGE 2024

The City Nature Challenge 2024 has drawn to a close, leaving a trail of ...

ISLANDWOOD LEGEND RETIRES: A TRIBUTE TO TIMM TRIPP

If you've ever stayed at IslandWood, faced an after-hours emergency, or ...

NO IDLING

This video features students from Karrie Coombe and Chantal Fleck’s clas...

SOUND BOUND

This video tells the story of one class’s participation in our Salmon in...

FEATURING ARTIST IN RESIDENCE, ELIZABETH VANDUINE

We recently had artist Elizabeth VanDuine on campus, participating in ou...

FROM THE GARDEN: SPUDS OF JOY!

Here at IslandWood, we’ve been busy tending to our lovely garden, and gu...

ALUMNI REUNITE AND REIMAGINE EDUCATION THROUGH A DESIGN CHARRETTE

What happens when passionate educators get together to dream big? Islan...

FEATURING ARTIST IN RESIDENCE, ANITA SPAETH

Our recent visiting artist, Anita Spaeth, challenges the conventional bo...

HAPPY EARTH DAY!

Check out 4th grade students from Lake Stickney Elementary School explor...

POEMS AND SCAVENGER HUNTS: SPRING IN THE GARDEN!

Spring weather can be a fickle friend – one moment it's sunshine, and th...

FEATURING ARTIST IN RESIDENCE, HANNAH MEADOWS

This week students participating in the School Overnight Program got to ...

FEATURING ARTIST IN RESIDENCE, VICKY EDMONDS

Vicky has been teaching poetry as a tool for learning about ourselves an...

FROM THE GARDEN: Planting with Kids!

We’ve started to plant seeds with School Overnight Program students in t...

TO KNOW THE DARK

The Washington School for the Blind (WSSB) recently attend our School Ov...

INSPIRING A LOVE OF NATURE

Thank you to our supporters, both near and far, for your help in creatin...

Q&A with Marlie Somers, Class of 2019

Marlie Somers, EEC class of 2019, shares a bit of what she’s been up to ...

GROWING IN THE GARDEN

Even after recent frigid temperatures, our garden is showing signs of sp...

Featuring Researcher in Residence, Amira Rahali-Smith

Amira Rahali-Smith, IslandWood Graduate Program class of 2023, is on cam...

ARTIST IN RESIDENCE RETURNS!

Artist in Residence is a component of our School Overnight Program (SOP)...

Meet Researcher in Residence, Rach

Meet IslandWood Class of 2023 alum Rach B., now a Researcher in Residence!

NEW GRADUATE PROGRAM INSTRUCTIONAL STRATEGIES COURSE

This fall, we added a new course to our graduate program curriculum. Dr....

BRINGING PERSONAL & CULTURAL IDENTITIES INTO SCIENCE LEARNING

We believe that understanding, honoring, and leveraging the personal and...

Researcher in Residence: Putting the feed back in feedback

IslandWood class of 2023 alum, Amos P., is currently one of the Research...

PERSPECTIVE IS EVERYTHING

Perspective storytelling is a lesson we use with students because of its...

FISCAL YEAR 2023 ANNUAL REPORT

Here is our review of fiscal year 2023.

ISLANDWOOD AWARDED OUTDOOR LEARNING GRANT

We’re so thrilled to have recently been awarded an Outdoor Learning Gran...

Our Living Machine: Saving Water and Increasing Sustainability

Over twenty years ago, when IslandWood was built, it was the first in Wa...

Meet Researcher in Residence, Sam

IslandWood class of 2023 alum, Sam, is currently one of the Researchers ...

DR. DÉ’S LEARNING THEORY WORK PUBLISHED

Recently, IslandWood's Director of Higher Education and Graduate Program...

Q&A WITH KATE BEDIENT, DIRECTOR OF URBAN PROGRAMS

We asked Kate Bedient, who manages these programs as IslandWood’s Direct...

SECOND ANNUAL LOCALIZING SCIENCE WORKING GROUP KICK-OFF!

Last week we began the second year of our Localizing Science Working Gro...

ISLANDWOOD AT NATIONAL MARINE EDUCATORS ASSOCIATION CONFERENCE

Last week IslandWood Urban School and Community Education Manager, KayLa...

ISLANDWOOD AT THE CLIMATE TEACHER EDUCATION DESIGN INSTITUTE

In July, IslandWood graduate program faculty Dr. Déana Scipio, Dr. Priya...

Legislative Update!

Our advocacy work as members of the Washington Outdoor School Coalition ...

SCIENCE POSTER SHOWCASE AT RISING STAR ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

Between 2021 and 2023, IslandWood, through a ClimeTime funded partnershi...

Our New Democracy & Education Course

This spring, we added a new course to our graduate program course option...

ISLANDWOOD’S FOUNDING STORY

Recently shared at our Dinner in the Woods event, this video features fo...

DEAR ISLANDWOOD

Bryant Elementary was one of the schools included in our pilot program o...

Unite:Ed

EEC Class of 2022 alumni Caroline D. conducted her master's research

MULTIPLYING OUR IMPACT THROUGH TEACHER PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Our work with teachers is critical in broadening our reach in the region.

Meet Researcher in Residence, Shannon

Shannon was on campus today as part of our Researcher in Residence (RiR)...

Everybody Needs a Rock, A Graduate Program Colloquium Project

I first encountered Byrd Baylor reading her book, “The Other Way to List...

ROOTStalk – TAKE ACTION WITH ME, FROM NOVA, ISLANDWOOD GRADUATE STUDENT

I hope that becoming a co-conspirator for freedom through education and ...

Celebrating our 20th Anniversary, Featuring King County Wastewater Treatment Division and Susan Tallarico

The King County Wastewater Treatment Division (KCWTD) has been a critica...

WHY SEED BOXES?

The IslandWood garden is an excellent example of the diversity we see in...

The Curried Carrots: A Fall Colloquium Graduate Project

We’re back sharing another thoughtful and super creative graduate colloq...

“I Became a Tree” Children’s Book Written and Illustrated by Siri McGuire

Current graduate student Siri McGuire shares the project she presented a...

Q&A with Annie Reading, EEC Class of 2017

Annie Reading, Class of 2017 shares a bit of what she’s been up to since...

The IslandWood Solo Walk

How often are you invited to slow down? To take a deep breath?

Celebrating our 20th Anniversary, Featuring Heide Felton, Deb Krieger and our Garden Classroom

Over the years the garden has provided students, teachers, and guests th...

Q&A with Benay O’Connell, EEC Class of 2020

We are working to share more stories from IslandWood alum, and to kick i...

Graduate Program Technology in Practice Project, “Navigating IslandWood”

This fall students in our graduate program took their Technology in Prac...

Mentor Mashup!

The year-long 1:1 relationship of a mentor paired with a grad student of...

Advocating for All of Washington’s Children

In February, the Washington Outdoor School Coalition

ADDING CHICKENS TO ISLANDWOOD’S GARDEN CLASSROOM!

February brings a new chapter to the IslandWood garden!

ROOTStalk – Reflecting on Orientation & First Quarter From Nova, IslandWood Graduate Student, Class of 2023

Hi, fam. Happy New Year! I am writing this from my cabin on a surprising...

Meet Researcher in Residence, Mylea

Today’s Researcher in Residence workshop was led by IslandWood EEC grad

Researcher in Residence Program

We’re thrilled to share a new initiative that we have recently formalized,

Celebrating our 20th Anniversary, featuring Steve Garlid & Bryant Elementary School

As we continue to celebrate our 20th anniversary this year, this month w...

ROOTStalk – A blog series from Nova, IslandWood Graduate Student, Class of 2023

Hola readers! (‘hola’ means ‘hello’ in Spanish). My name is Nova and you...

Duwamish River Program

This fall, we launched the Duwamish River Program. The program for 4th a...

Celebrating our 20th Anniversary, featuring Mithun and Dave Goldberg

As we celebrate our 20th anniversary, it feels essential to celebrate an...

Changes to our Natural History & Ecology Course, Informed by Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Priorities

As part of our commitment to justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion (...

What I Gained Through My Mentor/Mentee Relationship

My experience with mentorship was truly one of the most supportive, chal...

Celebrating our 20th Anniversary, featuring Pat O’Rourke

Pat O’Rourke served as IslandWood’s Director of Education from 2002 to 2...

IslandWood 20th Anniversary, Featuring Debbi Brainerd

This month we celebrate twenty years—since launching our School Overnigh...

Supporter Spotlight: Boeing

Boeing has been involved with IslandWood since John Warner, Boeing’s the...

5 things I learned from my IslandWood Summer Internship

Working with the children at IslandWood and learning alongside them has ...

SUMMER 2022 IMPACT UPDATE

Here is what our donor community made possible in the 2021 – 2022 school...

Year-long Amplify Science Working Group Begins

We kicked off our Localizing Amplify Science Working Group with particip...

Poetry Inspired by Becoming RainWise

This lovely poem was written by a 5th grader at Leschi Elementary, inspi...

Teaching Climate Justice, Climate Change and Emotionality to Graduate Students

This spring our graduate program, Education for Environment and Communit...

Supporter Spotlight: Sherry Williams

Sherry first became aware of IslandWood when she attended a yoga retreat...

IslandWood Consults on Northcoast Regional Land Trust Curriculum

IslandWood was honored to recently work on a project for the Northcoast ...

Supporter Spotlight: Tina Guldhammer Frei

Tina Guldhammer Frei has spent her life exploring the natural beauty of ...

IslandWood & Working Towards Racial Equity 2-year Workshop Series

In early 2021, we applied for inclusion in The Lawrence Hall of Science ...

Supporter Spotlight: Rachele Turnbull

Rachele first became aware of IslandWood when she moved to Bainbridge in...

5 things I’ve learned teaching and learning from my fellow graduate students

There is a lot to be said about the learning experiences in peer teachin...

IslandWood Celebrates Earth Month with Community Partners

IslandWood is working with community partners to encourage involvement i...

IslandWood Graduate Students Featured in Seattle Times Article

IslandWood graduate students were featured in this recent Seattle Times ...

(Re)connection (Re)search

As part of our Researcher in Residence program, IslandWood graduate alum...

LESCHI ELEMENTARY SCHOOL RECEIVES EPA SUBGRANT FROM ISLANDWOOD

In partnership with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), IslandWoo...

Supporter Spotlight: Nancy Klimp

Growing up in San Francisco, Nancy explored nature’s nearby forests, riv...

COVID CONNECTS US: IslandWood’s Involvement in National Science Foundation Research Project

In October we shared the exciting news about IslandWood's participation ...

Supporter Spotlight: Pete Wiedemann

Pete Wiedemann has been a volunteer at IslandWood for the past 18 years ...

Donor Spotlight: Rohan G.

This Fall, we opened an envelope that held a letter and a donation from ...

OUR PILOT PROGRAM WITH RISING STAR ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

What would it look like if IslandWood was able to support every teacher ...

Supporter Spotlight: Rob Smallwood

We recently sat down with Rob Smallwood of Smallwood Design & Constructi...

Donor Spotlight: Dr. Pooja Tandon

A member of IslandWood's Board of Directors, Dr. Pooja Tandon is a pedia...

AN UPDATE FROM THE GARDEN CLASSROOM

This summer we welcomed Megan Gordinier as our new Garden Manager. Learn...

Donor Spotlight: Dr. Jeannette Franks

We recently sat down with Dr. Jeannette Franks to learn more about her l...

HOW OUTDOOR EDUCATION CAN SUPPORT COMMUNITY BUILDING AND SOCIO-EMOTIONAL LEARNING

School groups typically come to programs on IslandWood’s Bainbridge Isla...

MEASURING THE IMPACT OF ISLANDWOOD’S TEACHER PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

During the 2020-2021 school year, more than 200 K-12 educators throughou...

7 Children’s Books to Support Equitable Science Learning In Your Elementary Classroom (Or At Home!)

As you know, children’s books have the power to ignite important convers...

Celebrating Exceptional Educators at the 2021 Patsy Collins Awards

Each year, IslandWood is proud to partner with Seattle Foundation in hon...

Virtual Tour of the Longfellow Creek

Join IslandWood Urban School Programs educator Celina Steiger for a virt...

Intersectional Environmentalism Teaching Tool

IslandWood Graduate Program Director Dr. Déana Scipio and Urban School P...

Virtual Tour of the Piper’s Creek Watershed

Join IslandWood Urban School Programs educator Celina Steiger for a virt...

Donor Spotlight: Steve Garlid, Teacher, Bryant Elementary

Steve Garlid, a teacher at Bryant Elementary, first heard of IslandWood ...

Donor Spotlight: Eddie and Martin Westerman

From the minute Eddie Westerman stepped foot on IslandWood's Bainbridge ...

Culturally Responsive Teaching: what it is and what it looks like at Islandwood

“Culturally responsive teaching” is everywhere at IslandWood. From our w...

Our second quarterly JEDI update

This summer, we promised to share quarterly updates about our commitment...

Donor Spotlight: The Yeomalt Wood Family

This fall, thirteen members of the Wood family - who has lived on Bainbr...

EMBEDDING EQUITY IN REMOTE LEARNING

COVID-19 is widening educational inequities more than ever. Here’s how w...

Donor Spotlight: Kimberly Schulze

Kimberly is an educator in the Seattle area. In 2017, she was awarded th...

Donor Spotlight: John Warner

It’s safe to say that John Warner’s first experience with IslandWood was...

How School Rain Gardens Can Center Equity and Support Stewardship

Last week, Urban School Programs Coordinator Celina Steiger co-led a pre...

Our first quarterly JEDI update

This past June, we shared our solidarity with the Black Lives Matter mov...

Donor Spotlight: Nicole Smith

Nicole and her husband Steve Bice moved to Bainbridge Island in 2017. Th...

Donor Spotlight: Marguerite Kondracke

Marguerite Kondracke has been engaged with IslandWood since she first wa...

For Morgan Malley (’19), Students are Partners in Learning

For Morgan Malley, becoming a teacher has meant consciously moving from ...

IslandWood Graduate Program Alum Morgan Lindberg Teaches in Community during COVID-19

Morgan Lindberg (‘15) is handling teaching in the time of the coronaviru...

Environmental Education Field at Risk

As the COVID-19 crisis continues, it’s become increasingly clear that th...

SHIFTING SCIENCE EDUCATION FROM SCHOOL TO HOME

Here’s what teachers have been telling us since COVID forced schools to ...

Phenology Friday #12

Want to know what causes flowering plants to bloom? Curious about the po...

Phenology Friday #11

From Siberian miner’s lettuce to lemon balm to wood sorrel (or, as Criqu...

Phenology Friday #10

Whoever said that art and science don’t go together?!

IslandWood Graduate Program Moved Instruction – and Community – Online

When the IslandWood graduate program moved online with the arrival COVID...

Phenology Friday #9

We tend to think of phenology as happening on the land, but the ocean ha...

IslandWood’s Commitment to Building a Race Equity Culture

Last week, we shared our reflections and solidarity with Black Lives Mat...

Connecting Stormwater to At-Home Learning for Students

In May, IslandWood hosted “Seattle Stormwater Systems and At-Home Scienc...

Black Lives Matter

IslandWood's work is to inspire healthy, sustainable communities and a h...

Phenology Friday #8

Did you know there are over 250 species of bumblebees and that they’re n...

Phenology Friday #7

Chances are, you’ve seen lots of dandelions popping up recently. But how...

A Note From Megan Karch, CEO

During the COVID-19 pandemic, all of our in-person programs & events are...

Before COVID, There Was WSSB, the First School for the Blind to Attend the School Overnight Program

With every school that comes to IslandWood, a partnership is formed. It ...

IslandWood and COVID-19: An Update

During the COVID-19 pandemic, all of our in-person programs & events are...

Phenology Friday #6

Did you know that, alongside providing bird feeders, it’s important to p...

Celebrate Mother’s Day With These Fun (and Educational) Activities!

It’s the perfect time of year to flex your amateur entomologist skills a...

Phenology Friday #5

It’s the perfect time of year to flex your amateur entomologist skills a...

Phenology Friday #4

In this edition of Phenology Friday, Kathie Bradford shares tips for obs...

Phenology Friday #3

This week, join Community Education Manager Mary Meier for an exploratio...

Phenology Friday # 2

This week, join Senior Vice President for Education John Haskin for an e...

Phenology Friday # 1

This week, join Community Education Manager Mary Meier for an exploratio...

Can You Identify These 13 Animals From IslandWood’s Bainbridge Island Campus?

Our Bainbridge Island campus may be quieter than usual, but it’s far fro...

IslandWood and COVID-19: An Update

To help keep our community and staff safe during the COVID-19 outbreak, ...

Middle School Teacher Brings Students to IslandWood to Create a Land Acknowledgement

Allow me to introduce you to my new favorite plant — a small, bright pin...

Pollution and Progress on the Duwamish River: IslandWood’s New Pilot Program

“What should the Duwamish River be like in the future?” Celina Steiger, ...

#AskDr.Dé | Mirrors and Windows: Director of Campus Education Déana Scipio Discusses Representation and Anti-Bias in Children’s Books

Déana Scipio is not only the Director of Campus Education at IslandWood,...

Moment of Discovery: Cultivating Reciprocity and Stewardship in the Garden Classroom

Allow me to introduce you to my new favorite plant — a small, bright pin...

Are You a Scientist?

Are you a scientist? Why or why not? What makes someone a scientist? If ...

Little Solutions to Solve Big Problems

While working with a group to clean up the school grounds, 4th grade tea...

The Impact of Mindfulness Meditation

“Gently close your eyes and take in a nice deep breath. Do this several ...

Moment of Discovery: The Lesson I Never Knew I Needed (Or Planned For)

It was my second full day with the 5th graders in Team Bog. We had taste...

To Name or Not to Name: Graduate Student Benay O’Connell Explores the Complexities of Naming Species

During my orientation at Islandwood, standing on a bridge over a river, ...

“The Patsy Collins award is the highlight of my career”: Announcing the 2019 Patsy Collins Award Recipients

Each year, IslandWood is proud to partner with Seattle Foundation in hon...

Moment of Discovery: Social and Emotional Growth on the Floating Classroom

We're excited to introduce Moment of Discovery, a new blog series in whi...

Liz Riggs Meder (’13) Brings Her IslandWood Education to New Heights as a Leader in Avalanche Safety

When Liz Riggs Meder was finishing her masters after a ten-month IslandW...

Planting the Seeds of Change: How a 5th Grader Became a Food Justice Leader

By his own account, the year Giorvi Merca came to IslandWood was the yea...

ClimeTime Funding Boosts Teacher Confidence in Climate Science and Next Generation Science Standards

This month we received the exciting news that IslandWood will receive it...

“IslandWood was a really formative moment for me”: An Interview with Nancyrose Houston, 16 Years Later

Natalie Myers attended the School Overnight Program with Suquamish Eleme...

“[It] really changed my personal perspective on what I could do”: An Interview with Natalie Myers about her IslandWood Experience

Natalie Myers attended the School Overnight Program with Suquamish Eleme...

Honoring Teachers Who Take Their Students Outside the Classroom

Teaching is incredibly demanding and increasingly constrained by testing...

4th Graders Test the Effectiveness of Seattle’s Stormwater Infrastructure

An excited fourth grader from Viewridge Elementary lowered a bucket by a...

Quieting the 10-Year-Old Mind: Visiting Artist Helps Students Cultivate Mindfulness

The fourth graders from Open Window School were lying on the floor of th...

Imagine Your Wedding in the Woods

Here’s what you know: You’re not getting married in a hotel. That’s just...

In IslandWood’s Great Hall, Grandmother Vi Gets a New Cedar Skirt

Suquamish weaver Peg Deam sat sideways on the edge of the stage in Islan...

Hannah Gallagher (’16) Says “Yes!” to Inclusive Play and Learning

IslandWood Graduate Program alum, Hannah Gallagher (’16), is the Inclusi...

Teaching in the Patriarchy

As a graduate student instructor for the School Overnight Program at Isl...

Stewardship Signs Connect Students Past, Present, and Future

This week one of our School Overnight Program (SOP) instructors, Sylvan,...

The Reality of Homesickness

A few weeks ago, a student came up to me and said, “Julia, I feel funny....

What Does a Teams Course Have to Do With Environmental Education?

When Breanna Caruso came to IslandWood last August to attend our graduat...

Introducing Ask Dr. Dé, Our New Graduate Program Blog Series

This quarter I’m teaching a philosophy of education class called, The So...

What’s Happening to IslandWood’s Trees?

To foster lifelong learning and environmental stewardship we create expe...

Drumming with Jah Breeze: A Tool for Teaching and a Time for Celebration

Suquamish weaver Peg Deam sat sideways on the edge of the stage in Islan...

Maria Coryell-Martin Leads Graduate Workshop in Nature Journaling

Suquamish weaver Peg Deam sat sideways on the edge of the stage in Islan...

Community Waters Science Unit Rolls Out to Seattle Public Schools

The fourth graders at John Rogers Elementary School in North Seattle had...

Confessions of an Environmental Educator

I have a couple of confessions to make. I willingly left a full-time job...

Somali Family Day

Suquamish weaver Peg Deam sat sideways on the edge of the stage in Islan...

Build Nothing for Us Without Us

The first time I heard that IslandWood was going to host a Community Eng...

Salmon as a Teaching Tool

Throughout the week, my students and I explored the life cycle of salmon...

Seattle Teacher Steve Garlid Grows with IslandWood Year After Year

Steve Garlid has been involved with IslandWood since before it was “Isla...

Kids and Knives, A Recipe for Responsibility

The thought of handing over a six-inch knife to a child you’ve only just...

From Lushootseed to Portuguese, A New Garden Sign Says Welcome

The IslandWood garden welcomes all students with wide open arms, always ...

Lauren Watel (’08) Takes the Helm of her Family Foundation

Lauren Watel is not the type to just pick up, leave, and not look back. ...

From a Little English Ivy Comes a Lesson on Stewardship

Our field group plan for day two of the School Overnight Program was to ...

IslandWood’s Fiscal Year 2018 Annual Report: Preparing the Next Generation of Environmental Stewards

Since joining IslandWood in March 2018, I have had the enormous pleasure...

Stormwater Education Teaches Students to Think Big and Act Now

How does something as precious as rain become an environmental hazard? W...

“I’m an Anomaly But I Should be the Norm”: The Impact of State Funding for Teacher Training

In 2018, the Washington state legislature provided $4 million dollars fo...

20 Field Trips in Seattle and Kitsap County to Spark Curiosity, Discovery, and Growth

At IslandWood, we believe that opportunities to learn are everywhere. Wh...

Bainbridge Island History Comes to Life in of All Places… A Cemetery

The walk to Port Blakely Cemetery, at the southwest boundary of the Isla...

The 2nd Annual School Overnight Program Annual Report

Each week, our School Overnight Program has a lofty goal — to engage cur...

The SOP Annual Report, A Commitment to Accountability

This year IslandWood’s School Overnight Program (SOP) issued its first e...

When Does a Place Become a Home?

We have been at IslandWood since August—a whole four months and yet only...

A New Renton School Forges Community at IslandWood

Principal Angela Sheffey Bogan got a new school this year. Last fall, th...

How Deep Is the Pond?

The floating classroom isn’t quite a boat. It has the double hull of a p...

Rainy Days Make Learning Outside Fun

As a graduate student instructor for IslandWood’s School Overnight Progr...

Staff Instructor Criqui (’17) Integrates Social Justice into Environmental Education

Christopher Criqui is a 2017 alum of IslandWood’s graduate program in Ed...

“We Want to Create a Place of Trust”: An Interview with Senior VP of Education, John Haskin

I trained in elementary education; however, I’ve always chosen to teach ...

The Graduate Mentoring Program: It’s Intense and Intentional. And It Works

It was fall, just a couple months into the year for Hannah Levy, a first...

Drop the Fear

October evokes spooky imagery for many people. For the students who visi...

Bravery Comes in Many Forms

During our first week of teaching in the School Overnight Program I was ...

Lauren Brown (’11) Starts Forest Preschool

The Asheville Farmstead School is an outdoor, play-based early childhood...

The Power of Seed Saving to Build Community and a Healthy Harvest

Not long ago, I was reminded by one of our SOP students that “seeds are ...

Living and Learning in the Forest: The IslandWood Professional Learning Community

On the South end of Bainbridge Island, just northeast of Blakely Harbor ...

The Way Progress Works: Centering Equity

Late this summer, a few members of our team - Theresa Song Ichien, John ...

Patsy Collins Award Winners Wow Us with Their Inspired Teaching

Meet the 2018 winners of The Patsy Collins Award for Excellence in Educa...

Tlingit Artist Odin Lonning Leads Students in a Celebration of Indigenous Peoples’ Day

On Monday, October 8, students in the School Overnight Program (SOP) too...

2018 Advocacy Success: Strengthening Partnerships Between Nonprofits and Schools

During the 2018 legislative session, IslandWood advocated alongside othe...

Joe Petrick (’03) Prepares Culturally-Responsive Educators as Teton Science School’s VP of Education

Joe Petrick was a member of IslandWood's first Education for Environment...

Rebekah Gardea (’16) Facilitates “Courageous Conversations” as Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Coordinator at the Bertschi School

Before enrolling in IslandWood’s Education for Environment and Community...

Equitable Access Ensures that IslandWood Remains a Tradition for Armin Jahr Students

Lorrie Wolle has taught elementary school for 23 years, and she’s been c...

An Interview with Laurie Miller on the 16th Anniversary of IslandWood’s Grand Opening

This September marks the 16th anniversary of IslandWood’s first academic...

West Seattle Teacher Kaiti Hanger Brings the Lessons of the School Overnight Program into the Classroom

To this day, Kaiti Hanger, a teacher at West Seattle Elementary School, ...

A Change in the Future of Our Graduate Programs

Four years ago, IslandWood together with our partner Antioch University ...

The Kitchen and the Garden Enjoy the Fruits of Collaboration

The kitchen and the garden at IslandWood are longtime friends and neighb...

Mónica Mesquita (’17) Applies Queer Pedagogy as a Garden Educator

Mónica Mesquita came to IslandWood because she wanted to learn how to be...

Brave with Braids: Empowering Young Female Voices

This article by IslandWood graduate student Jenn Allen was originally pu...

The Making of an SOP Muffin

The kale was in bloom, masses of tiny yellow flowers hovering over the l...

An Interview with Déana Scipio, Director for the Graduate Program in Education for Environment and Community

IslandWood is thrilled to welcome Dr. Déana Scipio as our new Director o...

The Art of Reflection

There’s nothing like watching a video of yourself engaged in doing somet...

Kelvin Washington (’14) Shares Insights on Recognizing Bias and Teaching for Equity

Kelvin Washington, class of 2014, was the first Black man to attend Isla...

Russian Teachers Visit IslandWood to Look, Listen, and Learn

Nadya Revchuk’s first impression of IslandWood is perhaps her most lasti...

Taking Action for Science and Community

Washington State formally adopted the Next Generation Science Standards ...

The Twig

My field group of 6th graders was midway through our Each One Teach One ...

Alison Martin (’18) Incorporates Indigenous Stewardship Knowledge and Methodologies to Foster Inclusive Teaching

Alison Martin’s father built a cabin in the foothills of the Sierra Neva...

Lan Nguyen (’14) Builds Trusts with Students by Sharing her Story

Lan Nguyen always greeted her School Overnight Program field groups in h...

Alicia Highland (’15) Fosters Powerful Learning by Honoring Identities and Creating Safe Spaces

My name is Alicia and I carry many identities — I am Black, a woman, a s...

Kacy Lebby (’14) Brings a Strength-Based and Student-Centered Approach to her Classroom

After IslandWood, I went to the University of Washington Master’s in Tea...

Katie Trelstad (’06) Weaves Place-Based Pedagogy into Work as Assistant Professor in Sociology

Katie is an Assistant Professor in Sociology at Cornish College of the A...

Jenny Whaley (’18) Helps Students Cultivate Responsibility Towards Each Other and the World

After six years of teaching elementary school in Durham, NC, Jenny Whale...

School Overnight Program Alumni Spotlight: Carter Erickson

The fifth graders from Crownhill Elementary in Bremerton were on a mushr...

Tom Stonehocker (’18) Uses his Love of the Natural World to Advocate for Equitable Access to Outdoor Spaces

Tom Stonehocker is a self-described “tree nerd.” Blame his hometown of C...

School Overnight Program Alumni Spotlight: Andy Tran

“Engineering is all imagination,” says Andy Tran. “I had a lot of it as ...

School Overnight Program Alumni Spotlight: Keiko Budech

If you look at the leaves of the salmonberry, a plant that thrives in th...

School Overnight Program Alumni Spotlight: Tiffany Chan

The first time Tiffany Chan came to IslandWood she was a ten-year-old gi...

School Overnight Program Alumni Spotlight: Nick Balera

The container was not much bigger than a tuna fish can, recalls Nick Bal...

School Overnight Program Alumni Spotlight: Zainab Mohammed, and Zaidaan and Ilham Shibuya

Sending a child on an overnight school experience is hard for many paren...

School Overnight Program Alumni Spotlight: Rico Jose

Rico and his classmates followed a trail through the forest and across a...

School Overnight Program Alumni Spotlight: Kari Adamski

“Wow!” Kari remembers thinking as she entered the Great Hall at IslandWo...