We partner with teachers to connect classroom learning to real-world environmental examples in students’ own communities. We offer water-themed day-long programs at King County’s Brightwater Wastewater Treatment Plant in Woodinville, as well as field studies of neighborhood creeks, streams and stormwater infrastructure in Seattle.
Our programs connect school science curriculum to watersheds and other built and natural systems in or near the communities where students live. They have been designed in partnership with local school districts to support Next Generation Science Standards and specific science units.
Our School Day Programs:
We strive to make sure all students are valued, respected, and included in our programs. Based on our experience as well as on research in the field, we know that incorporating both student experiences and locally-based topics increases student engagement and learning.
To help us meet the needs of all students, we aim to respond to the different issues, interests, and concerns that come up during a program, including by:
Learn more about our approach to culturally responsive teaching here.
Our four-hour programs at the King County Brightwater Center in Woodinville bring classroom learning to life, engaging students in experiential and project-based fieldwork that appeals to diverse learning styles. Programs are provided at no cost to schools and free transportation is available for those with 25% or greater free and reduced lunch rates.
Freshwater Ecosystems Field Study for 3rd–5th Grades
In this field program, students investigate the role of freshwater ecosystems in their communities. They develop an understanding of who and what lives in and around our ponds, how people use, impact, and change them, and how the ponds help us manage stormwater. This program incorporates Next Generation Science Standards.*
As part of their day, students will use science practices to:
As a result of the program, students will be able to:
Humans and the Water Cycle Program for 5th–8th Grades
What happens when we “borrow” water from the water cycle? What happens to this borrowed water after we use it in our homes, schools and businesses? In this unit, students will learn how the choices they make on a daily basis impact the water cycle. We’ll explore the state-of-the art Brightwater Cleanwater Treatment Facility and see how engineers have designed a system to clean our water and protect human and environmental health. The Humans and the Water Cycle program is designed for classes that are studying human impacts on the water cycle, wastewater, water use, urban infrastructure, and STEM careers. This program involves a tour of the Brightwater Treatment Plant and is only for students aged 9 and up. Hard hats and vests will be provided for students. Closed-toe shoes are required for this program.
As part of their day, students will:
As a result of the program, students will be able to:
Engineering Landforms Field Study for Grades 4th–5th
In this field program, students actively engage in the engineering design process to tackle stormwater engineering problems. This program incorporates Next Generation Science Standards* and supports the content in the FOSS Landforms Unit, the STC Land and Water Unit, and the Community Waters Unit. Topics including erosion, deposition, stormwater, and environmental engineering.
During the day, students will use an Engineering Design Process to:
As a result of this program, students will be able to:
Please note: This program DOES NOT include a treatment plant tour.
IslandWood is proud to partner with King County to provide exceptional learning experiences at the Brightwater Education Center, a state-of-the-art facility attached to King County’s newest and most innovative wastewater treatment plant in Woodinville.
For information about renting the Brightwater Center meeting rooms, or to set up a tour of King County’s state-of-the-art treatment plant, please visit the county’s Brightwater Center Webpage.
Programs are provided at no cost to schools and free transportation is available for those with 25% or greater free and reduced lunch rates. They are designed to last for four hours and can accommodate a maximum of 60 students.
All Brightwater programs are currently full. To join our waitlist, click the link below. If you’d like to be added to our contact list, please contact Derek Jones at derekj@islandwood.org.
For questions regarding registration, please contact KayLani Siplin at kaylanis@islandwood.org.
For questions related to already scheduled programs, you can reach out to Derek Jones at derekj@islandwood.org or 206.263.8866.
This outdoor field study applies Next Generation Science Standards engineering practices to a local stormwater site in Seattle. Students investigate how engineers have attempted to solve stormwater problems by using models, they test how those solutions are working, and they consider the needs of stakeholders. This program is available in three outdoor locations around the city and is made possible thanks to the support of Seattle Public Utilities.
This program connects to Seattle Public School’s Community Waters Science Unit and gives students the opportunity to apply classroom learning to a real-world environmental issue in their community. It incorporates Next Generation Science Standards and supports the 3-5 Engineering Design performance expectations.
Eligibility: Open to 4th and 5th grade classes in Seattle. Priority registration will go to those teaching the Community Waters Science Unit in 4th grade in Seattle Public Schools.
Time & Duration: 3.5 hours including lunch break, 9:30 am – 1:00pm
Days and Dates Offered: Tuesdays and Thursdays, September-December and March-June
Locations: A stormwater infrastructure site as close to your school as possible. Locations for 2019-20 include:
Cost: Free! This program is fully funded for schools in Seattle by Seattle Public Utilities.
Transportation assistance available.
Questions? Please contact Celina Steiger at celinas@islandwood.org.
-Brent Hinson, Teacher at Lowell Elementary
-Sue Sander, Teacherat Discovery Elementary School
3 out of 4 teachers saw students making connections to the program months after participation
80% of teachers report that students made connections between the program and their home community
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
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.
Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website.