WHO WE ARE
Dear Spokane County Educators,
Thank you for the vital work you do in educating the students in Spokane County. To complement the lessons you provide, environmental agencies offer a range of educational resources. These resources are compiled annually in the Project T.R.E.E. Environmental Program Resource Guide.
Project TREE is a concept borne from years of work between agencies in Spokane County that work in areas of environmental science and natural resources. We have consistently provided education, information and resources for a variety of audiences in and around the
This guide lists classroom presentations, field trips, and other programs available at no cost to your school from various area agencies. Many of these offerings enhance your curriculum and support Next Generation Science Standards. They also encourage students to explore issues that directly relate to their everyday lives.
We hope this guide will be a valuable resource.
Sincerely,
The Project TREE Team
ENVIROKIDS' CLUB
Spokane EnviroKids’ Club is a way for you to team up with other kids in Spokane County to explore all parts of the environment: air, water, weather, garbage and recycling, plants and animals, you and your environment. It is for children in Kindergarten through 6th grades who live in Spokane County. Visit www.spokaneenvirokids.org to learn more.
SPOKANE AQUIFER JOINT BOARD VIRTUAL SCIENCE FAIR EXTRAVAGANZA
Calling all educators! Are you looking for some great, local STEAM resources to engage your student this fall? Be sure to check out the Virtual STEAM Fair Extravaganza! Local organizations have teamed up to create lively virtual science fair booths for students centered in the Greater Spokane Region.
Your student will have fun visiting these exciting STEAM booths. You will find interesting things to learn and fun projects to do - all virtual. We hope you love science, technology, engineering, art, and math as much as we do.
Visit www.sajblearning.org to learn more.
OTHER PARTNERS
PROJECT WET
PROJECT WET
Project WET provides teachers and resource professionals with accredited workshops designed to provide non-advocacy, hands-on, interdisciplinary water education materials and instruction. This program trains teachers in use and application of the “Project WET Curriculum and Activity Guide”. Visit projectwet.org to learn more.
EARTH GEN
EarthGen equips youth to grow their power as changemakers for a healthy environment. Through EarthGen’s science-based, action-oriented programs, young people gain the knowledge, skills, and experience they need to become leaders for climate solutions and environmental justice. EarthGen, partners with educators and K-12 school communities to facilitate youth-centered, collective solutions for a healthy planet. Visit earthgenwa.org to learn more.
STERN WASHINGTON GIONAL SCIENCE & GINEERING FAIR
Eastern Washington Regional Science & Engineering Fair (EWRSEF) is a one-day event at WSU Spokane that provides 612th students throughout the region the opportunity to present their STEM projects in a conference setting. Visit ewrsef.org to learn more.
AIR QUALITY
Agency: Spokane Regional Clean Air
Contact: Lisa Woodard
Email: lwoodard@spokanecleanair.org
Website: spokanecleanair.org
Spokane Regional Clean Air Agency works to achieve and maintain clean air in Spokane County. We administer local, state and federal air quality regulations that address emissions from stationary sources of air pollution, including commercial operations, woodstoves, outdoor burning, asbestos, dust, and odors.
PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS
Why is Coco Orange?
AIR QUALITY STATION!
Invite Spokane Clean Air to your educational event! We provide fun, hands-on activities for students and air quality literature for parents.
Grades: 1-2
Coco the chameleon can’t change colors, and his asthma is acting up. Discover how Coco and his friends solve this mystery as they learn about air quality.
Inversion in a Jar
Grades: 3-5
Explore what happens when a layer of warm air traps cold air at the earth's surface and how air pollution can rapidly increase during these events through a hands-on experiment.
Air Quality Forecasting
Grades: 9-12
Learn about air quality in Spokane, how forecasts are made, and get the chance to record air pollution at your own school!
Agency: National Weather Service
Contact: Robin Fox & Laurie Nisbet
Email:robin.fox@noaa.gov;
laurie.nisbet@noaa.gov
Website: weather.gov/spokane
Weather affects our lives, from what we wear to how we plan our day. Weather can be exciting, stormy one day and calm the next. The National Weather Service provides the weather/water forecasts and warnings for the people of the Inland Northwest with the only weather radar in the region.
PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS
Extreme Weather
Grades: K-5
Presentation that discusses different types of severe and extreme weather, including safety tips.
Weather Basics
Grades: 3-8
Presentation covering where weather comes from including cold/warm fronts and high/low pressure.
Ask-A-Meteorologist
Grades: K-8
Interactive presentation where the students can ask any type of weather questions.
NWS EDUCATION RESOURCES!
Tours and classroom visits (both virtual and in person) are tailored for each grade level.
RESTORATION
CONSERVATION
Agency: The Lands Council
Contact: Justyce Brant
Email: jbrant@landscouncil.org
Website: landscouncil.org
The Lands Council is a local nonprofit that works to restore our region's forests, water, and wildlife. We organize community restoration efforts like our annual Earth Day planting or our Reforest Spokane Day where we plant thousands of trees!
PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS
WANDER WILD HIKES!
GOOD FOR ALL AGES!
Join us for educational hikes throughout our region! One hike is held each season, and in the winter, you will get the chance to snowshoe!
Snow School
Grades: K-12
Take a snow shoe trip up Mt. Spokane to look at the snow pack, analyze the SWE data, and learn about what plants and animals do during the winter.
SpoCanopy
Grades: 3-12
Help increase urban canopy cover in some of Spokane's historically disenfranchised neighborhoods to increase environmental equity. Younger ages welcome with guardian supervision.
Agency: Spokane Conservation District
Contact: Stacey Selcho
Email: stacey-selcho@spokanecd.org
Website: sccd.org
Spokane Conservation District is a long standing local resource for natural resource education and management. The mission of the SCD is simple: to promote the sustainable use of natural resources within Spokane County. We offer numerous educational programs for teachers, students, adults, landowners, producers, and the public.
PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS
Classroom Presentations
Grades: K-12
We provide various natural resource themed lessons for free. Lessons align with NGSS and connect with science instruction taught in local classrooms. All materials are provided!
Outdoor Activities
Grades: K-12
Whether you are taking students on a field trip or trying to utilize the school yard, there are lessons already developed or we can provide an activity that aligns with your needs.
Teacher Workshops
Riparian Restoration
Grades: 3-12
Plant different native species of trees and shrubs in the riparian zone along damaged creeks and streams!
See our full program menu here: landscouncil.org/programs
SCD will host and organize educator workshops. Look to our events page for info!
See our full program menu here: sccd.org
OUTDOOR LEARNING
Anytimeyouwanttotake studentsoutsidebutlack thenecessarymaterials, checkoutoneofourlabs!
Eachkitcomeswith materialsforyourclass
WETLAND EXPLORATION
Agency: Spokane County
Contact: RaeAnn Nolander
Email: rnolander@spokanecounty.org
Website:www.spokanecounty.org/DorisMorrison-Learning-Center-DMLC
The Doris Morrison Learning Center (DMLC) is owned and operated by Spokane County and overlooks the newly restored Saltese Flats Wetlands. This land was historically farmland which has since been converted back into a wetland. The DMLC acts as a learning center to host groups interested in exploring the wetland.
PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS
Bird Walk
WETLAND EXPLORER FIELD
TRIP
5TH GRADE
Become a wetland explorer for a day! Take water and soil samples, enjoy a bird walk, and learn about the unique history of the Saltese Wetlands.
Grades: K-12
Grab a pair of loaner binoculars, a Saltese Wetland bird guide and take a bird walk around the looped path.
Macro Moment
Grades: 3-8
Ready to get in the mud? Borrow a bucket of macro identification supplies and head down to the water’s edge to get a mud and water sample and find little critters.
NATURAL RESOURCES
Agency: Northwest Natural Resources Insitute
Contact: Diahne Gill
Email: dgill@greaterspokane.org
Website: nnri.org
Northwest Natural Resources Institute works to cultivate a better understanding of the daily importance of our agricultural, mineral, forest and water resources by educating teachers and students about the science, economic and societal aspects of our region’s natural resources.
PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS
Farm Fair
Grades: 4-6
A wonderful opportunity for students to learn about the variety of crops and animals that are produced in Eastern Washington and how vital agriculture is to our economy and the impact it has on Washington State.
Model Forest
Grades: 5-6
Learn about forestry, the forest industry and careers in forestry. Spend the remainder of the day working with US Forest Service nursery staff learning what they do on a daily basis and how the nursery runs.
Pond Backpack
Grades: K-4
Explore the wetlands up close with an Explorer Backpack filled with tools to turn a simple walk into a day of discovery! .
Model Mine
Grades: 4
Attend rotations on mine safety, reclamation, rock mechanics, a tour of Central Pre-Mix’s open pit mine and pan for gold!
WATER FESTIVAL!
5TH GRADE
Attend rotations featuring hydropower, recreational uses of water, groundwater, water conservation, water jeopardy, benthic bugs, habitat and much more!
WASTE REDUCTION AND RECYCLING
Agency: Spokane Solid Waste
Email: solidwaste@spokanecity.org
Website: TalkTrashSpokane.com
How does garbage impact our planet? How can we make less? The City of Spokane and the Spokane County Regional Solid Waste System help students answer these questions through engaging lessons. Invite an educator to your school or set up a virtual visit to learn more about managing waste.
PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS
FIELD TRIP!
Grades: 3-12
Find out where your garbage goes and how that trash becomes electricity on a tour of Washington’s only waste to energy facility.
Nature's Recycling
Grades: k-12
Where would we be without decomposers? Learn how worms eat garbage in this hands-on composting science class.
Make Recycled-Paper!
Grades: k-6
Is recycling important? Students discuss the 3 R's and how recycling paper can save a valuable resource-trees!
Hands-on Kits Available
Waste Reduction kits come complete with lessons and materials to teach in your own timeframe. Check them out!
WATER WONDER
Agency: Spokane County
Contact: RaeAnn Nolander & Laura Goff
Email: rnolander@spokanecounty.org
Website: spokanecounty.org/water
The Spokane County Water Resource Center (WRC) is a regional learning center providing interactive lessons about our local watershed and aquifer for K-12 students. Visit the Water Resource Center for a fun field trip (no-cost!) or request an educator to visit your classroom to provide a dynamic, hands-on learning experience! Our work is funded through the Aquifer Protection Act.
PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS
Drippy’s Incredible Water Cycle Journey
Grades: K-6
Travel through the water cycle to learn where water can be found on earth and how it changes states.
Water Reclamation Tour + Lab
Grades: 5-12
Take a facility tour to investigate how we transform dirty wastewater into three valuable products: clean water, bio-solids, and energy. Includes a hands-on lab!
Pump it Up! Aquifer Models
Grades: 3-8
See our full program menu here: my.spokanecity.org/ solidwaste/education
Build an interactive aquifer model to investigate how human use and the water cycle affects the aquifer and river.
Additional info. and request form here: www.spokanecounty.org/wrc
WRC FIELD TRIP!
Grades K-12
Interactive Exhibits, Hands-on Investigations, and Guided Wastewater Tours. Visiting the WRC is the best way to bring water education alive for your K-12 students.
