The Washington Park Arboretum’s Environmental Education Program

Our program showcases the wonderful living classroom that is the Arboretum and covers topics ranging from “Native Peoples and Plants” to “Wetland Ecology.” The program provides valuable, life-long learning experiences that help children understand the essential role plants, forests, and wetlands play in the urban environment. School field trips connect diverse learners to the latest research and expertise in horticulture, environmental restoration, and conservation, encouraging them to appreciate the natural world, and to enjoy and take part in outdoor activities.

The School Field Trip program—our largest and most far-reaching children’s initiative—engages students from kindergarten to 6th grade in nature-based learning at the Arboretum. It continues to be one of the premier outdoor education programs in the Seattle area. In fiscal year 2018, the School Field Trips program delivered 155 class field trips and served a total of 6,676 students originating from 99 different schools in the greater Puget Sound area.

For schools that do not have the resources to pay the nominal fees—or that cannot afford bus service to and from the park—we provide a scholarship fund that enables the students to participate free of charge. Our scholarship fund also allows us to waive fees for students enrolled in the National School Lunch Program. In fiscal year 2017–18, we piloted targeted recruitment to Seattle Public Schools with 50 percent or more of students on free or reduced lunch. Thirty-three percent of the schools that we visited registered for and attended our field trip program. Of these schools, eight were participating in their first field trip program. The number of schools receiving a transportation scholarship in fiscal year 2017–18 was 13, up from two in fiscal year 2016–17.

Private support makes it possible to offer this environmental program to schools well below the program’s actual cost. We want to increase the diversity of participants by expanding our targeted recruitment for underserved audiences to reach a broader segment of our community. Potential school districts include south King County, Highland, Burien, and Federal Way, as well as a continued focus on Seattle Public Schools. With an increased focus on financial scholarships and bus funds, we have committed to a 35 percent increase in philanthropic support for this program. The Arboretum Foundation’s board and staff are grateful to the Dudley T. Dougherty’s Board of Directors for their confidence and belief in our mission.