Environmental Science Center

PROMOTES ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP, SUSTAINABILITY, AND ACADEMIC ACHEIVEMENT.

THE ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE CENTER (ESC) IS A NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION OFFERING EXPERIENTIAL ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION PROGRAMS FOR ALL AGES AT LOCAL BEACHES, STREAMS, FORESTED AREAS, AND SCHOOL GARDENS THROUGHOUT SOUTH KING COUNTY. OUR GOALS ARE TO INSPIRE AND FOSTER ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP ACTIONS FOR ALL PROGRAM PARTICIPANTS, AND TO OFFER KNOWLEDGE AND RESOURCES FOR COMMUNITIES TO DEEPEN THEIR RELATIONSHIP WITH THEIR LOCAL ENVIRONMENT. ESC WAS FOUNDED IN 2000 AFTER A GROUP OF EDUCATORS WANTED MORE STUDENTS TO EXPERIENCE ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION OUTDOORS. THE ORGANIZATION NOW SUPPORTS ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP FOR THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE THROUGH COLLABORATIONS WITH A GROWING NUMBER OF SCHOOL DISTRICTS, COMMUNITY-BASED ORGANIZATIONS, MUNICIPALITIES, AND INDIVIDUALS.

AS OUR COMMUNITY HAS GROWN, SO HAVE OUR PUBLIC PROGRAMS AND EVENTS, BUT ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP REMAINS AT THEIR CORE. ESC ENGAGES INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES THROUGH A WIDE VARIETY OF OUTDOOR PROGRAMS, RANGING FROM GUIDED NATURE WALKS, ENVIRONMENTAL TALKS, NATURE FESTIVALS AND TODDLER PROGRAMS. ALL AGES PARTICIPATE IN WORLDWIDE RESEARCH PROJECTS IN THEIR NEIGHBORHOODS THROUGH OUR ANNUAL COMMUNITY SCIENCE PROJECTS THAT ARE MADE EASILY ACCESSIBLE. CURIOSITY AND CARE GO HAND-IN-HAND IN WHAT, AND WHY, WE DO WHAT WE DO. WE ARE EAGER TO SEE WHERE THE COMMUNITY WILL LEAD US NEXT.

ESC RECOGNIZES THAT MANY COMMUNITIES IN SOUTH KING COUNTY PARTICULARLY BLACK, INDIGENOUS, PEOPLE OF COLOR, IMMIGRANT, REFUGEE, AND LOW-INCOME COMMUNITIES HAVE BEEN SYSTEMATICALLY EXCLUDED FROM SAFE, POSITIVE OUTDOOR EXPERIENCES, AND WE ARE STRIVING TO CHANGE THAT. WE AIM TO REMOVE SOME OF THE BARRIERS TO THESE EXPERIENCES BY PROVIDING TRANSPORTATION AND FREE OR LOW-COST PROGRAMS, TRANSLATION AND INTERPRETATION, AND BY WORKING TO CREATE A SAFE AND AFFIRMING SPACE WITHIN OUR PROGRAMS AND IN THE BROADER COMMUNITY.

IT IS IMPORTANT TO FORM VALUES EARLY ON THAT FOSTER CONSERVATION. THIS GUIDED OUR INITIAL FOCUS ON PROGRAMMING WITH CHILDREN AND FAMILIES. EARLY LEARNING PROGRAMS HAVE INCLUDED BOTH INDOOR AND OUTDOOR SEASONAL EXPERIENCES, AND SCHOOL PROGRAMS TYPICALLY CONSIST OF ONE HOUR OF CLASSROOM INSTRUCTION FOLLOWED BY A TWO- OR THREE-HOUR FIELD STUDY AT NEARBY GREEN SPACES. DURING INQUIRY-BASED FIELD PORTIONS, STUDENTS LEARN TO ANALYZE WHAT THEY ARE SEEING, DEVELOP A DEEPER UNDERSTANDING OF ECOLOGICAL SYSTEMS, SEE HOW ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY IS IMPACTED BY HUMAN DECISIONS, AND REACH INFORMED CONCLUSIONS ABOUT HOW TO MAKE RESPONSIBLE CHOICES. WE ALSO PROVIDE AFTER- SCHOOL PROGRAMS, SUMMER PROGRAMS, ADULT AND TEACHER WORKSHOPS, HIGH SCHOOL INTERNSHIPS, TEEN LEADERSHIP OPPORTUNITIES, AND RESTORATION PROJECTS.