State Superintendent Chris Reykdal said of the new program, “With these funds, community-based organizations will partner with school districts to take learning outside for more than 40,000 Washington students. These programs provide students with the opportunity to learn in meaningful and engaged ways where they can understand the unique context of their community.” The grants target students who have been historically underserved in outdoor learning.

The grant received 111 applications, and IslandWood’s Urban Outdoor Learning Program was one of 27 projects that was funded. The almost $150,000 grant, over two years, will help us reach an estimated 7,190 children from Seattle and Tacoma Public Schools with programs that get kids learning outside in their own neighborhoods and communities. The primary goal of the IslandWood programs funded by the grant is to use nature as a classroom to make science, social studies, and other in-class learning relevant to kids’ everyday lives and help deepen their connection with their local environment. This will include our Duwamish River Program, Salmon in the Schools Program, Creekosystem Field Study, and Community Waters schoolyard lessons.

Thank you OSPI and RCO for helping to make this work possible!

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IslandWood depends on grants like this one, along with individual and foundation philanthropy, for almost 30% of IslandWood’s $11 million dollar annual operating budget.