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Wetlands in King County, Washington State

Environmental resources for teachers and students

Programs for Educators Directory (Acrobat pdf)
A guide to King County programs and resources of interest to educators on topics ranging from cultural diversity to water quality and wildlife.

Environmental quizzes

  • Take the EQ* quiz
    Assess your personal *Environmental Quotient and see how it compares to your neighbors.
  • Family Fun Quiz
    Take the green challenge, see how well you score on 8 questions and win an eco-friendly prize.
  • Quizzes, games & fun facts about waste
    How well do you know the Four Rs - Reduce, Reuse, Recycle and Rethink? Find out what you know and what you need to know about garbage, recycling and hazardous waste by quizzing yourself.

Ways you can help

teacher with adult learners

Programs and resources for schools

King County's Solid Waste Division provides assemblies and classroom workshops on waste prevention and recycling to elementary school students throughout the county. In 2009, more than 32,300 students heard the division's presentations.

Parcel viewer or iMAP
Interactive maps of King County useful for looking up information about specific parcels or for viewing and researching layers of geographic features such as historical photos.

Sign up for the SciFYI Newsletter

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SciFYI Newsletter, by Water and Land Resources Division Science Section
Quarterly newsletter promotes the use and understanding of our scientific data and information, and to share knowledge about the value and benefits of Environmental Sciences.

Brightwater Education and Community Center
New sustainably-built facility and surrounding park located near Bothell and Woodinville, available host school and community events, indoors or outdoors.

Education and school assistance - Solid Waste Division
Waste reduction, recycling, and resource conservation are the focus of these programs. Storytelling sessions, an assembly show, classroom workshops, teaching materials, and assistance in forming Green Teams are among the offerings. Programs range from preschool through high school.

Noxious weed resources for schools
Learn about presentations and other programs for teachers and students customized to curriculum needs.

students recycling milk containers Introduction to stormwater in King County
Learn about the science of stormwater, common problems related to stormwater including causes and solutions, homeowner tips, regulations, and how to get help from King County.

Green Schools Program
Helps schools improve or expand their conservation efforts while reducing related costs, and provides public recognition for becoming better stewards of the environment to serve as models for others.

Cool School Challenge (external link) New
Educational program provides information and motivation and outlines specific steps that students and teachers can apply to reduce carbon dioxide (CO2) and other greenhouse gas emissions schoolwide. Provided courtesy of Redmond High School and the Puget Sound Clean Air Agency.

Household Hazardous Waste school and youth programs
What is household hazardous waste? How does it affect the environment, salmon, AND us? Visit this site to learn how you can schedule highly interactive classroom presentations, download lesson materials, borrow teaching kits/videos/ books, find related field trips, take a training, and more! All services are free.

learning the importance of composting Resources for teaching about surface water issues
Curricula, resources, and local agencies related to water.

The Groundwater Story
Musical animation conveys the importance of groundwater to living things -- including people -- and how everyone can help protect this hidden resource.

Wastewater treatment information, education, and public involvement
Where does water go when you flush or brush? Find out how we treat wastewater in our region, locate information about current construction projects and the decision-making process for many of our prominent projects. Programs include a speakers bureau, treatment plant tours, "Wheels to Water" free bus transportation for students to water quality sites and Industrial Waste information. Learn how the choices we make everyday effect the water quality in our region.
As Bert the Salmon say's "Clean water...Its up to you and me!"

 Wastewater Treatment Speaker's Bureau
Are you wondering how wastewater gets from your house to our treatment Plants? Where the new treatment plant is going to be located? What projects are planned in your neighborhood? King County Wastewater Treatment Division has set up a Free speakers bureau. A staff specialist will come to your organizations meeting, neighborhood group gathering or classroom to speak about water quality issues/concerns, sewer services, wastewater treatment processes and much more. Please contact John Phillips 206- 684-6799 or email john.phillips@kingcounty.gov for details.

Native plant salvage program
The plant salvage program is a wonderful opportunity for middle school and older students to learn about native plants, protect water resources and get their hands dirty! We can accommodate students on Saturday fall, winter and spring salvage events or arrange work at the plant holding facility in Issaquah (at Duthie Hill Park) during weekdays. If you have questions about the program or would like to participate, please contact Cindy Young.

students with cleaning supplies Create and fund your own project
Thousands of dollars are available for a wide range of projects, from planting wetlands with native plants to writing musicals about water resources. To find out more about the King County grant programs, please contact Ken Pritchard.

School credit program
School districts in unincorporated King County may qualify for a waiver of their SWM fees based on their teaching of surface water-related curriculum. Applications are sent to each school district in the late summer and are due by November 1st. School District properties which are served by a stormwater flow control or water quality facility must correct any maintenance deficiencies identified by King County before that property is allowed the discount. Please call Ken Krank to find out more.

Environment Washington: Tools for Teachers (external link)
Washington State Department of Ecology site offering teacher workshops, grants, action project opportunities, research and references, and a database of environmental curricula, activities, and subject areas by grade range.

Homework help for students

students learn about bus scheduleIntroduction to our local environment

Related information

Related agencies

News and announcements

Jan. 31, 2012
King County Green Schools Program honors four schools for resource conservation

The Watershed Report video (external link)
Narrated entirely by local high school students, the Watershed Report is an award winning series of video reports on positive sustainability trends in the 13 school districts and 27 cities of the greater Lake Washington Watershed.

Jan. 13, 2012
Volunteer for Feb. 4 native plant salvage and help keep King County naturally green

Jan. 9, 2012
King County seeks nominations for Earth Heroes at School awards

Dec. 29, 2011
External article, Seattle Times
For Bothell parks, housing bust means more forest
The goal is to turn the area into a living biology laboratory for students of all ages, "from K through Ph.D."

Dec. 20, 2011
King County GIS Center marks a decade of information, education, revenue generation

Nov. 3, 2011
Brightwater partnership with IslandWood to broaden environmental education horizons
IslandWood’s support to enhance Brightwater’s educational mission

Oct. 11, 2011
King County’s clean-water utility hosts Brightwater Center open house, Oct. 15

Oct. 10, 2011
Exciting, healthy changes underway for school meals

Be a Salmon Watcher
Trainings coming up - Woodinville Sept. 22 and Seattle Oct. 5, 2011

Sept. 20, 2011
External article, Sammamish Review
Skyline students study duck boxes at Hazel Wolf wetlands

Sept. 6. 2011
Help keep tabs on native salmon as a Salmon Watcher Program volunteer

Aug. 30, 2011
Learn about where your garbage goes: Tour King County’s Cedar Hills Regional Landfill

Aug. 26, 2011
Local leaders break ground on 21st Century education hub in White Center

Aug. 17, 2011
External article, Puget Sound Business Journal
University of Washington is nation’s ‘coolest school’

Aug. 15, 2011
External article, Seattle P-I
College organic, sustainability programs growing

Aug. 1, 2011
External article, Princeton Review
The Princeton Review Gives 768 Colleges Green Ratings
University of Washington makes "2012 Green Rating Honor Roll"

July 7, 2011
External article, Seattle Daily Journal of Commerce
Brightwater, a place for hands-on environmental education
Brightwater Center educates through programs and exhibits, as well as building design.

June 13, 2011
King County Green Schools Program honors 77 schools for conservation

June 13, 2011
King County Green Schools Program honors 11 Issaquah School District schools

June 8, 2011
King County Green Schools Program honors Bellevue School District and its 26 schools

April 21, 2011
Earth Day education event takes school outside for 125 students

April 19, 2011
King County Green Schools Program honors Mercer Island School District and its schools

April 19, 2011
King County honors environmental leaders with Green Globe Awards
Executive Constantine to recognize winners at County’s annual Earth Day Expo, April 22 at Westlake Plaza in Seattle

April 2011
Snoqualmie Watershed Forum news
Get outdoors for habitat restoration and other projects

Mar. 30, 2011
King County honoring its Earth Heroes

Feb. 8, 2011
External report, KUOW
Living Building audio

Jan. 18, 2011
Scenic Hill Elementary first to reach top level of King County Green Schools Program

Jan. 18, 2011
King County Green Schools Program honors eight schools for resource conservation

Jan. 7, 2011
King County seeks nominations for Earth Heroes at Schools awards
Program recognize outstanding efforts to educate youth, protect environment

Jan. 3, 2011
External release, Washington Dept. of Ecology
Educator and creek restorer Wes Yasny honored for environmental work

Dec. 2, 2010
King County Jobs Initiative wins 2010 Workforce and Economic Development Best Practice Award
Governor Gregoire awarded County’s innovative environmental jobs creation; at-risk youth outreach

Oct. 29, 2010
External article, West Seattle Herald
SLIDESHOW: Dow Constantine takes part in White Center Walking Schoolbus

Oct. 12, 2010
External Announcement, White Center CDA
Walk to School in October with Dow Constantine!

Oct. 11, 2010
External column, Seattle Times
'Walking school bus' is on a roll

Oct. 7, 2010
External article, Seattle P-I
Hot stuff: UW part of national effort to study global warming

» Archived news and announcements