Environmental Education & Outdoor Learning

Updates

Dec. 14th closures: Many Seattle Parks and Recreation facilities are closed Thursday, 12/14 for a Recreation Division staff training. Details on our blog

Beach fires: The fire rings at Alki and Golden Gardens parks will be back next summer! A reminder that fires are not permitted outside of these fire rings.

Jump to your section of interest using the links below. (Also, check out our 2022 Year in Review infographic and our nature videos.)

Nature and Environmental Education - Public Programs

Seattle Parks and Recreation offers multiple 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 keywords nature and/or environment Sign in, or if this is your first time registering for classes with the latest software, create an account. Once you are logged in you can choose your programs and pay online.

If you are having difficulty searching for nature programs online call Camp Long Environmental Learning Center (206) 684-7434 or Carkeek Park Visitor Center (206) 386-4236 and one of our front desk attendants can search programming for you. We hope to see you at a program soon.

For more information about our Public Programs, please contact Program Supervisor Giovannina.Souers@seattle.gov

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 here 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.