Graduate Program in Environmental Education & Equity
The IslandWood Graduate Program in Education for Environment and Community, in partnership with the University of Washington, is a 10-month immersive residency in justice-oriented environmental education; experiential, student-centered learning; and culturally-responsive teaching and curriculum development.
Offered in partnership with the University of Washington College of Education, our graduate residency program runs from late-August to mid-June and is based on our 250-acre campus on Bainbridge Island, WA, a 35-minute ferry ride from downtown Seattle. The program includes graduate course work in environmental education through a justice-oriented lens, biweekly outdoor teaching of IslandWood’s School Overnight Program, and 1:1 mentoring.
Our program is based on the following philosophical foundation:
- Justice-oriented education involves examining our personal relationships to systems of oppression, developing asset-based understandings of the youth we work with, and leveraging youths’ cultural and linguistic resources to design inclusive teaching and learning environments.
- Knowledge of ecology and natural habitats is essential to creating healthier relationships between human communities and the natural world.
- Education is most successful when teachers honor the cultural, ethnic, socioeconomic, and religious diversity in their classroom.
- Meaningful education grows out of thoughtfully guided experiences and reflection.
- In learning communities, everyone can contribute as both teacher and student.
- An integrated, experiential curriculum combining science, technology, and the arts allows individuals with different learning styles and aptitudes to succeed.
- Education should help students balance their individuality with their responsibilities as members of human and natural communities.
- Environmental and experiential education is most effective when it relates to real-life experiences in the student’s home community.
- A sustainable future depends upon strengthening our respect for one another and the natural world.
Our faculty and staff are strongly committed to advancing justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion (JEDI) in our program, organization, and field. Within our program’s residential environmental education context, we prepare educators to approach their work with an equity lens and to create culturally sustaining learning experiences for all students. We also strive to contribute to a more diverse educator workforce that mirrors the demographics of our society, and welcome students from a variety of life experiences and backgrounds who share a commitment to justice-oriented education.
In this work, we recognize both the legacy of racism and injustice within the environmental education field, as well as our privileged position as part of a historically white-led organization. We are striving to continuously learn, grow, and be accountable to ourselves, our students, and the communities we serve.
Learn more about how we’re advancing JEDI in the graduate program here →
And read about IslandWood’s commitment to equity, including our organization’s priorities and our progress on those priorities, here →
We approach environmental education through a multidisciplinary, place-based, and culturally responsive lens. Through both the teaching practicum and the courses we offer, the Graduate Program prepares educators to create environmental learning experiences that honor students’ full selves and recognize the validity and importance of multiple knowledge sources and systems.
In classes and through coursework, mentorship, and applied learning sessions, graduate students explore various pedagogical approaches, deepen their understanding of their own positionality, and gain strategies for equity-based education. The teaching practicum allows students to put theory into practice and evolve their skills as educators within a STEAM-focused residential environmental learning environment.
Learn more about IslandWood’s approach to culturally responsive environmental education here →
We also recommend checking out the following STEM Teaching Tools from the University of Washington Institute for Science + Math Education for additional insight into our approach to environmental education:
- How Can Environmental Educators Practice Intersectional Environmentalism (co-written by Director of Graduate Program, Dr. Déana Scipio and former Urban School Program Educator, Laura Brown!)
- Focusing Science and Engineering Learning on Justice-Centered Phenomena Across PK-12
- Teaching STEM In Ways That Respect and Build Upon Indigenous Peoples’ Rights
- How Can We Promote Equity in Science Education?
Our Partnership with the University of Washington College of Education
Our program is offered in partnership with top-ranked University of Washington College of Education, whose mission is to transform inequitable systems of education to create just, sustainable, and culturally-thriving democracies. The IslandWood Graduate Certificate completes the first year of a UW Master’s in Education and fulfills the prerequisites for application to the Master’s in Teaching in Elementary Education.
Offered through the Curriculum and Instruction program at the UW College of Education, students may choose to complete their M.Ed. with an emphasis in Teaching and Curriculum, or in Science Education. Most students finish their degrees with two additional quarters (six months) after their IslandWood year.
UW’s Curriculum and Instruction program focuses on the nature and interaction of curriculum, teaching, and learning. With a strong commitment to equity, democracy, and justice in education and society, the program employs diverse approaches to teaching and learning.
Once at IslandWood, students can apply to the UW College of Education’s Teacher Education Program (TEP) to earn their Master’s degree and teacher certification in Elementary or Secondary Education. While our program fulfills prerequisites and can provide experiences that enhance your application to this highly competitive program, completing the IslandWood graduate program does not guarantee acceptance.
The UW’s TEP program has a strong social justice component and provides students with significant practical teaching experience in the Washington state public school system. The Elementary Education program begins the summer after the IslandWood year and IslandWood coursework meets all prerequisites for the program. The Secondary Education program begins the spring after the IslandWood year and prerequisites are determined on an individual basis.
While there are other ways to complete your MiT or earn a teacher certification in less time directly through the UW, IslandWood’s program can provide experience and skills that will help make you a competitive candidate in the MiT admission process.
“Perhaps the most important lesson I learned at IslandWood was that I didn’t need to have a background of sleeping in tents, participating in outdoor recreational sports, or hiking in national parks to be an environmental educator. I just needed to know that I could play a role in connecting people to the environments and communities around them.”
– Ilya Schmulensen, IslandWood Graduate Program Alum
Program Details
Discover the change you can make as an educator with graduate-level coursework in justice-oriented environmental education (including equity and anti-bias work), biweekly teaching experiences, and 1:1 mentoring.
Our graduate-level coursework includes topics related to:
- Educational philosophy, theory, and practice
- Culturally responsive and sustaining pedagogies
- Curriculum Development
- Child Growth & Development
- Science Teaching Methodologies
- Inquiry-based approaches
- Qualitative Research Methods
- Natural History and Ecology
- Curriculum and Instruction Methods
- Advanced Instructional Strategies
- Garden and Arts Integration
All students seeking admission to our program must apply and be accepted to both IslandWood AND to the University of Washington’s Master’s in Education Program. Applications to IslandWood and the University of Washington’s M.Ed. degree can be submitted concurrently. Letters of reference and transcripts must be submitted for both applications, which are processed through separate systems. Therefore, requesting these items at the same time may be more convenient for your recommenders.
Step 1. Apply to IslandWood
Application decisions cannot be made until all application materials have been received. Students will be notified of their admission status after a review period following each application deadline.
Step 2: Apply to University of Washington’s (UW) Master’s in Education Program
When completing the UW online application:
- Select either the “M.Ed.-Curriculum and Instruction-Science Education (IslandWood)”- OR -“M.Ed.-Curriculum and Instruction-Teaching & Curriculum (IslandWood).” Applicants interested in the UW Master’s in Teaching (MiT) degree must start out as an M.Ed. student.
- Apply as a matriculated graduate student. Matriculation status means you intend to eventually earn a Master’s degree, can have up to 31 credits transferred towards the UW M.Ed. degree, and are eligible for federal student loans.
IslandWood’s Admissions Requirements:
- An undergraduate degree from an accredited college or university (minimum 3.0 grade-point average preferred).
- Demonstrated interest or experience in culturally responsive teaching, environmental and social justice issues, experiential education, and working with youth.
- Please note that neither IslandWood or the University of Washington College of Education will require the Graduate Record Exam (GRE) for the 2023 admission cycle. All applicants have the option to self-report GRE scores within the application, if desired.
Deadlines for admission to the Fall 2025 quarter are as follows:
| IslandWood Priority Deadline | IslandWood Tuition Discount | UW Deadline | UW Admissions Decision |
| November 15, 2024 | $750 | January 6, 2025 | March 2025 |
| January 3, 2025 | $500 | January 6, 2025 | March 2025 |
| March 14, 2025 | $250 | May 7, 2025 | June 2025 |
| May 5, 2025 | $100 | May 8, 2025 | June 2025 |
IslandWood provides equal opportunities to all applicants for admission without regard to race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, age, disability, genetic information, marital status, amnesty, or status as a covered veteran in accordance with applicable federal, state, and local laws.
Cost and Aid
We are committed to making graduate-level education accessible, and offer scholarships, service awards, and tuition discounts to applicants.
IslandWood offers a graduate program stipend of $500 a month during the 10-month program ($5,000 per calendar year) to all enrolled students to help cover basic living expenses. The stipend can be spent by graduate students in any way they choose and is intended to help our students focus as much as possible on their learning and less on how to cover basic living expenses.
| For 2024 – 2025 Academic Year | ||
| 10 months on-campus | 10 months off-campus | |
| Tuition | $27,010 | $27,010 |
| Housing | $7,750 | N/A |
| *UW fees | ~$2,500 | ~$2,500 |
| TOTAL COST | ~$36,705 | ~$29,205 |
| Refundable deposit | $300 for housing and keys | $100 for keys |
| Non-refundable deposit
(applied toward tuition costs) Due upon commitment to hold student’s place. |
$500 | $500 |
* Students are responsible for service and activity fees charged by the University of Washington. For the IslandWood Graduate Program Class of 2021, these fees amounted to approximately $1,314 and are subject to change by the University of Washington.
** Applied toward tuition costs and due upon commitment to hold student’s place
Tuition includes:
- 10 graduate courses throughout the year
- Up to 31 credits toward the partnered M.Ed. program at the University of Washington. (These credits often transfer to other universities and colleges.)
- A year-long teaching practicum with extensive mentoring by education staff and faculty
- Applied learning workshops include topics such as cultural competency, local flora and fauna, art and garden education, and social-emotional learning.
- Low faculty/student ratio with extensive advising and mentoring
IslandWood offers the following scholarship opportunities to help put graduate-level studies within reach of all students and to increase the diversity of the education field:
- The Robert P. Karr Scholarship – Applications open January 1. This scholarship awards $20,000 to five students in the IslandWood Graduate Program each year. The award is open to prospective students of color, first-generation college graduates, and those who demonstrate financial need, prioritized in that order. The application deadline is May 1 to align with our final priority deadline and UW’s May deadline. Learn more here.
- Scholarships for candidates from underrepresented communities in the education field. We encourage qualified candidates to complete and submit the relevant sections of the IslandWood Aid application.
- Scholarships for candidates demonstrating financial need. We encourage qualified candidates to complete and submit the relevant sections of the IslandWood Aid application.
Students may also contact the University of Washington for more information on grants and scholarship opportunities for graduate students.
To make graduate-level education more accessible, we offer service awards to students affiliated (members, alumni, interns, staff, etc.) with service corps, military, and partner organizations, as well as teachers and paraprofessionals.
This following list is not comprehensive. To learn about eligibility and rates, or to inquire about organizations not listed here, please contact us at [email protected].
Education
- Teachers
- Paraprofessional educators
Service Corps
- AmeriCorps National
- Serve Washington
- AmeriCorps National Civilian Community Corps (NCCC)
- AmeriCorps VISTA
- FEMA Corps
- Peace Corps
- Teach for America
- City Year
- Student Conservation Association
- Washington Conservation Corps
- Veterans Conservation Corps
- Puget Sound Corps
- EarthCorps
- Food Corps
Military
- Active Duty
- Veterans
Undergraduate Institutions
- Antioch University
- University of Washington
Community Organizations
- College Success Foundation
- IslandWood
- Natural Leaders
- YMCA BOLD/GOLD
- Doris Duke Conservation Scholars
Once accepted and enrolled in the UW Master’s in Education degree program as a matriculated student you are eligible for federal financial aid.
Students wishing to receive federal financial aid through the UW are encouraged to complete the FAFSA application by January 15 or as soon as possible. Please contact the University of Washington’s Office of Student Financial Aid (OSFA) with specific questions regarding the financial aid process.
Opportunities to forgive, cancel, or discharge your loans are available through several programs, such as the Public Service Loan Forgiveness and Teacher Loan Forgiveness programs. Visit the Federal Student Aid website for more info.
Paid on-campus work opportunities are available at IslandWood in various departments for all graduate students, regardless of financial need. Examples of on-campus employment opportunities have included: blogging and photography assistant, research assistant, lab assistant, art studio assistant, gear room assistant, garden assistants, facilities assistants, and event assistants.
Students will be invited to apply for employment during orientation training in September. The hourly wage for 2022-2023 graduate students is $17.45. Because employment is in addition to the responsibilities of being a full-time graduate student, most IslandWood graduate students work an average of 5 hrs/week.
We can also help connect graduate students to off-campus work opportunities on Bainbridge Island. These opportunities commonly include childcare, house-sitting, pet-sitting, yard work, and other odd jobs.
The following websites offer searchable databases for scholarships. In addition, these sites include general information on applying for and receiving Financial Aid, completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (the FAFSA is required for individuals seeking federal loans), and resources for students of color, students without documentation, and military veterans.
- UW College of Education Scholarships
- Human Rights Campaign LGBTQ Scholarships Database
- Pride Foundation Scholarship
- GoGrad lists scholarships for LGBTQ individuals, Women, and Veterans
- Scholarships for Women
- Scholarships.com various scholarships for underrepresented groups
- BestColleges.com
- Careeronestop.org
- Open Education Database
- Scholarships for Education Majors
- Fastweb
- Nitro
Check Out Campus!
Follow our Graduate Program Manager, Michela Dimond, to see what IslandWood’s campus is like in this 8-minute short tour.
If you have a bit more time and want to see as much of our campus as possible, this longer campus tour video is the one for you!
STORIES
October 2, 2024
Sam Rubin Blends Passion and Purpose in San Francisco
It's always inspiring to hear from IslandWood alumni from our graduate p...
September 26, 2024
Kicking Off with Connection: IslandWood Grads Build a Community
The EEC class of 2025 is kicking off their IslandWood journey with inten...
September 17, 2024
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...
Connect with Us
In our program, we intentionally focus on fostering strong relationships and a supportive learning community. We look forward to connecting with you!
Our recruitment and administrative staff are also proud IslandWood Graduate Program alumni. In addition to being able to answer your questions from both an administrative and personal perspective, we can also connect you with a current student or alum pursuing your desired career path.
If you’d prefer to send us an email or call us directly, please do! You can contact Michela Dimond, IslandWood Graduate Program Manager (and Class of 2020 graduate), at [email protected] or 206.855.4324.
We’d love for you to visit our campus! We offer tours and shadowing opportunities for prospective students. We’re also happy to put you in touch with alumni who can share their perspectives about the program.
Please reach out to Michela Dimond, IslandWood Graduate Program Manager (and Class of 2020 graduate) at [email protected] to set up a tour, phone call, or to connect with current grads or alumni. We can’t wait for you to learn more about the program!
Attending a virtual or in-person event is the perfect way to learn more about the program, meet our team, and get your questions answered. For a full list of upcoming events, please visit our Events Calendar.
PROSPECTIVE GRAD EVENTS
VIRTUAL ALUMNI PANEL FOR PROSPECTIVE EEC STUDENTS
INFORMATION SESSION FOR PROSPECTIVE GRADUATE STUDENTS
@islandwoodgraduateprogram
Get even more insight into the day to day of the program – from mentoring, social life, curriculum, guest speakers, faculty, current grad students and more – on our Instagram account.
Student Supports & Resources
The following are a variety of the resources and supports available for graduate students at IslandWood. We believe that it’s important for the graduate program to adapt to students’ needs and feedback, and are continually learning and growing to ensure that our graduates have the support they need. If you have any questions, or would like additional information about any of these resources, please reach out to us at [email protected].
Mental health issues are more common than heart disease, lung disease, and cancer combined, and we believe strongly that mental health should not be stigmatized. When you need support, please consider following the links below. Here’s to a healthy experience at IslandWood!
UW Husky Health and Well-Being
- All UW-Seattle health services in one place. UW-Seattle offers a wide range of health and wellness services, from exceptional medical care and counseling services to recreation classes, safety resources, peer health advocacy, trainings and more. Some services on this site are limited to currently matriculated UW-Seattle students, while others are open to faculty, staff, and the general public.
- The UW Counseling Center provides a safe, inclusive environment to help you explore the challenges of life and learning through: Counseling (individual, group, career and crisis), Consultation with faculty, staff and parents who have concerns about a student, Workshops, and invited presentations. These services are provided at no charge to currently-enrolled, degree-seeking UW students thanks to support by the Services and Activities Fee.
- As an enrolled student with UW, you can call their crisis center at 866-427-4747.
Private Insurance
- If you are under 26 and on your families’ insurance plan, see if you have coverage and a referral service nearby already.
Bainbridge Island Psychotherapy Guild
- A non-profit association of psychotherapists practicing on Bainbridge Island. Their website is searchable for type of credentials, insurance, issues, treatment modalities, etc.
- Provides free crisis intervention and referrals to local therapists, as well as complimentary counseling sessions (up to 6). Helpline House is located in downtown Winslow.
Information about IslandWood campus accessibility
- Learn more about the accessibility of our buildings, structures, and trails; equipment and resources available; information about service animals; and our scent sensitivity policy.
Information about UW campus accessibility
- Here, you’ll find a map identifying accessible routes, a guide to accessible parking locations and transportation services, and information on reporting any physical barriers you may encounter on campus.
UW Disability Resources for Students
- We highly recommend visiting this page, which acts as a hub of information for disability services available to UW students, including the D Center (Disability and d/Deaf Cultural Center), the Access Technology Center, the Disability Services Office, and more.
UW Q Faculty, Staff & Allies Association (QFS)
- An affinity group whose vision is to foster a campus climate at UW where all LGBTQ+ faculty, staff, and allies are valued and respected, regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity. Check out their resources page here.
- A center on the University of Washington campus that provides resources, mentorship, support groups, and events for LGBTQ+ students.
Counseling & Support Group Resources
- A list of support groups and counseling resources curated for LGBTQ+ students.
UW Directory of LGBTQ+ Health Resources
- A list of health centers, peer support and discussion groups, and advocacy organizations that LGBTQ+ students may want to explore.
UW Directory of LGBTQ+ Career Resources and Professional Associations
- A list of FAQs, professional associations, and job and legal resources aimed at assisting and advocating for LGBTQ+ individuals in the workforce.
Financial:
- IslandWood has scholarship funds reserved for applicants who identify as members of nondominant communities in the education and environmental fields.
- The Karr Scholarship is also available for BIPOC students, students who are the first generation in their family to attend college, and/or who demonstrate financial need. The intent of the scholarship is to foster recipients as a ‘community within a community’ and that may include additional activities and networking opportunities for all students of color within the cohort.
- Learn more about these scholarship opportunities here.
Affinity Groups:
- New as of the 2020 – 2021 cohort, and in response to our grad students, we created race-based caucus groups on campus for both staff and graduate students, recognizing that how students engage with JEDI will be reflective of their identities and lived experiences.
Professional Networks:
We have alumni presence and professional ties with the following organizations focused on supporting people of color in environmental fields:
- Environmental Leadership Program / Ray Fellows
- Environmental Professionals of Color (EPOC)
- Doris Duke Conservation Scholars
- People of the Global Majority in Outdoors, Nature, and the Environment (PGM-ONE)
University of Washington Resources:
Several of the supports we recommend most for IslandWood students of color are housed within the University of Washington’s College of Education and Graduate School, which matriculated IslandWood students have full access to:
- UW GO-MAP at the Graduate School – provides leadership and advocacy to achieve equitable representation, access, and success for graduate students of color at the University of Washington
- Office of Student Diversity & Inclusion for the College of Education – dedicated to supporting students of color within the education department, including sharing resources, putting on workshops, connecting students with mentors, and more.
Recommended Reading
Our faculty and staff are currently reading and engaging with the following books, and have shared them with this year’s incoming graduate student cohort to help build the foundation for their professional learning community:
- We Will Not Cancel Us: And Other Dreams of Transformative Justice by adrienne maree brown
- Lessons from Plants by Beronda L. Montgomery
- Gathering Moss by Robin Wall Kimmerer
Our team has also been learning from and exploring the anti-racist education resources included on this page.
ISLANDWOOD GRADUATE PROGRAM ALUMNI CENTER
A vibrant space dedicated to highlighting resources and opportunities for alumni to continue learning, stay connected, network, and share.
“Over the years of our UW-IslandWood connection I have witnessed graduate students arriving from IslandWood on the UW campus with a commitment and passion for environmental education that is rooted in equity and experiential learning. I can say without reservation that IslandWood is a state-of-the-art training space for graduate student educators.”
– Mark Windschitl, Professor of Science Education, University of Washington College of Education
Graduate Program in Environmental Education & Equity
Graduate Program in Environmental Education & Equity
Graduate Program in Environmental Education & Equity
Graduate Program in Environmental Education & Equity
Graduate Program in Environmental Education & Equity
CONNECT WITH US
