AFTERNOON ECOLOGISTS
WINTER 2021 SCHEDULE
An in-person, outdoor program on Bainbridge Island to deepen science knowledge, strengthen problem-solving skills, and inspire teamwork.
An in-person, outdoor program on Bainbridge Island to deepen science knowledge, strengthen problem-solving skills, and inspire teamwork.
New this school year, Afternoon Ecologists is an in-person, outdoor program on our Bainbridge Island campus for students in 3rd – 6th grades!
Designed to align with Washington’s 3rd – 6th grade science curriculum, this program is a fun, engaging opportunity for kids to safely connect with friends, deepen science knowledge, and strengthen problem-solving skills.
Led by current University of Washington Master’s Students in Education and experienced staff instructors, the Afternoon Ecologists program gets students learning outside with peers while deepening their understanding of the impact science and engineering can have on their communities and the planet.
This 7-week program begins the week of February 1st and ends the week of March 19. We are offering sessions Monday – Friday afternoons, with each day of the week focused on a different theme. When registering, you will pick a day of the week (or more than one day of the week if you like!) that your child will participate in for seven consecutive weeks.
Program times are:
Mondays: Water and Watersheds
Tuesdays: Weather and Climate
Wednesdays: Adaptations
Thursdays: Garden and Land Stewardship
Fridays: Investigations
Please note, 5th & 6th-grade groups for Fridays are currently sold out. We’ll be running another session in the Spring, so stay tuned!
The program is for students in 3rd – 6th grades.
This program will be held on our Bainbridge Island campus, at 4450 Blakely Avenue NE, Bainbridge Island, WA 98110.
Given uncertainty about school schedules and evolving state health & safety guidelines, we recognize that much can change between now and the start of the program in February. Please rest assured that we will be providing full refunds in the event that your child is unable to participate due to a shift in school schedules or if IslandWood is unable to hold programming. Otherwise our cancellation policy is as follows:
Like many of our programs, Afternoon Ecologists is designed to support project-based learning. Project-based learning (or PBL) allows students to investigate, explore, and develop skills and knowledge by analyzing real world problems and thinking critically about potential solutions. Basing our programs in this approach helps drive curiosity and encourages students to engage with their learning. Designed around each day’s theme, students in the program will pursue projects throughout their seven-week experience that will help spark creativity, enhance science knowledge, and strengthen collaboration skills.
– Stephanie P., Afternoon Ecologists Parent
We are committed to making sure this opportunity is financially accessible for all 3rd – 6th graders who are interested in participating. To support this commitment, we are offering tiered pricing and scholarships.
Additional financial support is available for families who find our tiered pricing beyond their reach. Please contact joanh@islandwood.org for more information.
Monday – Thursday Sessions Pricing:
Friday Sessions Pricing:
Please note that pricing for the Friday option is higher as the Friday sessions include an additional hour each week.
**If you have the capacity to help make this program accessible for other children, please consider adding a donation during the registration process. Thank you in advance!**
– Jamie, Afternoon Ecologists Parent
The Afternoon Ecologists program will be run in alignment with the WA State Department of Health’s guidelines for safe outdoor programming. For more details, click the link below.
We hope this will help answer some of the questions you may have. If you have additional questions, don’t hesitate to reach out to Joan Hutchinson at joanh@islandwood.org.
We are following all of the COVID-19 safety precautions as outlined by the WA State Department of Health. For more details, please visit our Safety & Logistics page.
Yes! Students who have participated in Afternoon Ecologists before can expect to participate in new activities and build new skills, as well as revisit a few favorite IslandWood activities and strengthen existing science knowledge.
Yes! Each day of the week will focus on a different theme.
Students will only be indoors to use the bathrooms and in the case of inclement weather. If there’s bad weather, each group will use separate indoor spaces.
Yes, we’re happy to accommodate requests and to see friends exploring together! When you register, there is a form field that will ask you about any friend requests.
Unfortunately not. We often have a waitlist for programs, and in fairness to those on the waitlist, we don’t allow transfers to anyone outside your family.
No. Given COVID-19, we’re limiting the number of people on campus to reduce the risk to our staff and children participating in the program.
Yes, the program is open to all 3rd – 6th graders in the Puget Sound area!
Yes! In the registration form, where it asks you for any friend requests, you can share that your child is part of a pod, along with the name of each child in the pod that’s also signing up. Please note, your child will still need to wear a mask and participate in social distancing while at IslandWood.
As you know, many families have been hit hard by COVID-19. Would you help ensure that every 3rd – 6th grader has the opportunity to participate in this program, regardless of their financial situation?
As a new program, we would love to hear your feedback about how we can continue to evolve Afternoon Ecologists to best meet our community’s needs.
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, and who continue to protect these lands and waters for future generations, as promised by the Point Elliott Treaty of 1855, the Treaty of Point No Point of 1855, and the Treaty of Medicine Creek of 1854.
While the majority of our work takes place on Suquamish (suq̀ʷabš) and Duwamish (dxʷdɐwʔabʃ) land, we also conduct programs on the land of the Snohomish (sduhúbʃ), Puyallup (spuyaləpabš), Muckleshoot (buklshuhls), Skokomish (sqoqc’bes), and S’Klallam (nəxʷsƛ̕ay̕əm) peoples.
4450 Blakely Ave. NE, Bainbridge Island, WA 98110 206.855.4300
IslandWood is a registered 501c3 charitable organization.
A Special Thanks to our corporate sponsor
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