Environmental Education & Outdoor Learning

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Check out our 2024 Year in Review and 2023 Year in Review infographics and our nature videos.

If you would like to donate to help support Nature programs in Seattle Parks visit our fundraising page https://arcseattle.org/Citywide-Environmental-Education-Programs

Jump to your section of interest using the links below.

• Public Programs
• School and Organized Group Programs
• Community Partnership Programs and Special Events
• Volunteer
• Citywide Environmental Education Advisory Council

Nature and Environmental Education - Public Programs

Join us this spring for a series of Natural History Field Courses and on-line learning.

Curious about the natural world? Would you like to learn more about the habitats of Seattle Parks? Delve into bird watching in the Pacific Northwest, exploring the intertidal zone, learn about forests and meadow habitats, watersheds and the wildlife that depend on these unique urban spaces.

These intensive multi day courses are led by trained City of Seattle Naturalists, you can sign up for the entire series or pick just a few.

Field excursions will be augmented by on-line presentations so you will leave with a deeper knowledge of each subject and a new perspective on your future explorations in Seattle parks.

Natural History Course Schedule:

Thursday, April 10th 6:30 – 8pm: Web Ex – Introduction to birding by ear

Saturday, April 12^th 8am – 3pm: Discovery Park – Introduction to bird watching, fresh water, forest ecology and nature journaling.

Thursday, April 24^th 6:30 – 8pm: Web Ex – Watersheds and the creatures that inhabit them

Sunday, April 27^th 8am – 3pm: Carkeek Park – birding, forest habitats, beavers and salmon

Saturday, May 3^rd 8am – 3pm: Magnuson Park – birding, freshwater and meadow habitats, and amphibians

Thursday, May 15^th  6:30 – 8pm: Web Ex – Marine life of the intertidal zone

Saturday, May 17^th 9am – 4pm: Lincoln and Constellation Park – forest lichens, moss and more & marine intertidal walk

Saturday, May 31^st 9am – 3pm: Discovery Park – Invertebrates (insects, spiders and more), stewardship and nature journaling

 Sign up for all of them – class code: #77439

$250 for all sessions ($200 for 55+)

Or sign up for individual classes and pick what you would like to learn about.

$15 each WebEx class ($10 for 55+)

$55 each Saturday class ($40 for 55+)

Click Here for more information and to sign up – registration opens on March 4^th

Seattle Parks and Recreation offers Nature and Environmental Education classes and programs in parks all over the city. To find classes on native plants, birds, urban forest walks and low tide beach explorations, search our registration portal using keyword "nature". If this is your first time registering for classes, create an account. Once you are logged in you can choose your programs and pay online.

For staff assistance with registration, you may call Camp Long Environmental Learning Center (206) 684-7434 or Discovery Park Visitor Center (206) 386-4236. 

For more information about our programs, Follow us on Facebook

School and Organized Group Programs

Excitement, joy, energetic exploration and a healthy learning environment!  Teachers and group leaders, this is what your group will experience on a field trip to Seattle parks. Derive the benefits of a lesson plan integrating Next Generation Science Standards and Washington State Essential Academic Learning Requirements led by highly trained Seattle Urban Nature Guides.

Seattle Parks and Recreation's Environmental Education team provides pre-school through fifth grade field trips in Seattle parks for school classes or your own personalized organized group.

These engaging programs are provided at parklands adjacent to YOUR school or community or at destination parks like Discovery Park, Camp Long, Carkeek Park and West Seattle beaches. Contact PKSNatureFieldTrips@seattle.gov to ask if we can come to your park.

Choose from a variety of programs, from ponds and beaches to forests and other seasonal offerings  - such as an exciting spider program to encourage students to engage in learning in a natural fun-filled fashion. Download the information flyer for more information. Programs are offered Monday through Friday (mornings and afternoons) year-round.

For more information and to schedule your school or organized group field trip program, please call (206) 484-5994 or email PKSNatureFieldTrips@seattle.gov

Pricing and Scholarship Info:

• $225 for up to 30 students, $7.50/student after the first 30
• $75 for up to 30 students for low-income schools/classrooms (50% or more receive free or reduced lunch)
• Free bus transportation available for Title 1 Seattle Public Schools once per year

Questions? or for more information, please call (206) 484-5994 or email PKSNatureFieldTrips@seattle.gov

Community Partnership Programs and Special Events

Using the Equity and Environment Agenda as our framework, Seattle Parks and Recreation Community Naturalists work across Seattle to partner with community-based organizations, connecting people with engaging and meaningful experiences in nature.  

We strive to collaborate with our partners to provide relevant outdoor and nature programming, within communities which historically have not had access to these resources.

We partner with community-based organizations, such as:

• Delridge Neighborhoods Development Association
• Urban League of Metropolitan Seattle
• Duwamish Valley Youth Corp
• Kids & Paper
• Seattle Housing Authority
• Basilica Bio
• and many more

If you would like our team of naturalists to bring a program or booth to your next special event or community festival, or if your community organization would like to become a partner, please contact:

North Seattle and Indigenous Communities
Gina Lee - Community Naturalist

Central and Southeast Seattle
Nicolasa Hernandez – Community Naturalist

Southwest Seattle and Internal Partnerships
Nicole Parish-Andrews – Community Naturalist

Volunteer

Become a Seattle Urban Nature Guide (SUN guide) and Volunteer with Seattle Parks and Recreation to share your knowledge of the natural world with kids, families, schools classes and community groups.

Or join the Citywide Environmental Education Advisory Council and  volunteer to help support our programing though fundraising, marketing, advocacy and running special events.

See Environmental Education Volunteering page  for more information on volunteering with our team.

Citywide Environmental Education Advisory Council

We are excited to introduce the newly recognized Citywide Environmental Education Advisory Council (CEEAC). The CEEAC works with Seattle Parks and Recreation to offer community perspective, advice, and consultation on environmental education opportunities across Seattle.

The Citywide Environmental Education Advisory Council envisions programming that promotes representation where everyone is seen, heard, and valued.  Uplifting the experiences and knowledge of BIPOC will help guide the CEEAC mission so that our communities can engage with and learn from nature.

Meetings are scheduled on the third Tuesday of every month from 6:30-8:00 pm. Meetings are being held virtually until further notice.

All are welcome! These meetings are public and open to the community; please join us! For access to the next meeting or general questions please email Giovannina.Souers@seattle.gov.