Location Friday: Immanuel Presbyterian Church. 901 North J Street, Tacoma, WA 98403

Location Saturday:  Science and Math Institute (SAMI). 5502 Five Mile Dr, Tacoma, WA 98407

Location Sunday: Various adventures in the region.CALL FOR PROPOSALS!

In order to formally submit your conference proposal, please complete and submit this form by March 17th. Once submitted, your proposal will be considered for 2025 Northwest Regional Conference and you will be notified of the status of your proposal by March 31st. If your workshop is selected, you will be notified by the NW volunteer team and will be eligible to register for the conference at the discounted presenter rate.  

Should you have any questions in this process, please feel free to reach out to Erin Carpenter at erincarpenter321@gmail.com. We appreciate your investment in making this year’s conference great.

Enjoy a 2-hour guided snowshoe hike.

Hikes will be about two hours, staying on beginner level terrain. Hikes will begin at 9 a.m., Mondays and Fridays, Jan. through Feb. Be prepared for winter weather. Bring along waterproof boots, snowshoes, warm clothes, etc. 

For updates or cancellations due to weather, please call (509) 856-4121.

Family in Nature is a fun and highly interactive, nature-based program designed for children ages 2 to 5 years old. Each session lasts approximately 90 minutes and focuses on various aspects of nature found in the park. The programs include story time, creative play, parent-led activities and crafts. Our goal is to create a warm and welcoming space where you and your little ones can enjoy the wonders of Deception Pass together.

Please note pre-registration is required.

Join the Washington State Recreation and Conservation Office online for a fun and informative evening discussing all things recreation along the lower section of the Snake River. No matter how you recreate, they want your input! The Washington State Recreation and Conservation Office and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) are studying current outdoor recreation activities along the Lower Snake River, and what future recreational activities and facilities would be desired if the four Lower Snake River dams are breached and the reservoirs lowered. This recreation study will not make any final decisions about breaching the dams. It will help inform future federal decisions if Congress authorizes breaching the dams. Check out their website for more information at snakeriverrecreation.com.

Join NOAA on January 23 at 12:00 PM PST for an eeWEBINAR featuring new (and free!) resources for integrating climate education into your teaching and learning.

Three climate change leaders will share materials to advance climate change education: Frank Niepold, NOAA’s Senior Climate Education Program Manager, Dr. Bora Simmons, Director of the Project for Excellence Program of NAAEE, and Dr. Christopher Roland Knittel from MIT’s climate education group.

Speakers will discuss:

•  NOAA’s recently-released "Climate Literacy: Essential Principles for Understanding and Addressing Climate Change"

•  NAAEE’s “Educating for Climate Action and Justice,” the latest module in the Guidelines for Excellence series

•  New high-school climate change lesson plans from MIT that are free and easy to use

• Additional resources from NAAEE and NOAA that can support climate education at all levels

All registrants will receive the recording of this webinar. 

The City of Tacoma’s Events and Recognitions Committee (CERC) announces the annual Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Celebration taking place on Monday, January 20, 2025. The event will include the presentation of the Lifetime Service Award, honoring Shawn Durnen, and the Emerging Leader Award, recognizing Brian Gatewood. In addition to these honors, the celebration will feature a dynamic program and a community outreach fair. The program begins at 1 p.m. at the Greater Tacoma Convention Center (GTCC), located at 1500 Commerce St., Tacoma.

Community Outreach Fair: 11:00 AM
Celebration: 1:00 PM

Learn more here.

Monday, Jan 20, 2025 12:00 PM - 2:00 PM

Spokane Convention Center

“Join us as we celebrate the legacy of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. during a community discussion and commitment to continue building a beloved community for all. Students will gather for a march downtown to celebrate the work of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and discuss the impact he had on our communities and what it looks like to continue to build on a ‘beloved community for all.’”

Where: Garfield High School 400 23rd Ave, Seattle 98122

Time:

• 11:00 am for Indoor Rally

• 12:30 pm March Starts

Learn more here.

The Northwest African American Museum in Seattle honors the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. with its annual King Day celebration featuring notable speakers, inspirational performances, kids' activities and giveaways

Learn more here.

Pacific NorthWest Allied Networks (PNW-AN) scheduled meeting time on Thursday, December 12 at 11am-1pm PST is canceled and we aim to reconvene the group in 2025.

Please watch the PNW Allied Networks page (https://www.e3washington.org/pnw-allied-networks) on the E3 WA website for updates.

Join the Washington State Department of Commerce for a webinar on December 18, 12-1 p.m., to gain a comprehensive overview of Washington state’s Federal Funds Grant Writing Assistance Program (FFGWAP). This informative session will highlight the program’s key features and services, with a dedicated Q&A segment to address your questions.

Register here.

Dates: December 6th  from 8 AM – 5 PM

Location: Cedarbrook Lodge in Seattle WA.

Ticket Options: Tickets are $150 and we have a limited number of complimentary tickets available for those in need.

You can register for the event by clicking https://wcaction.us/CarbonFriendlyForestryConference.

With National Family Volunteer Day approaching, we invite you to join the IATC volunteer crew in assisting WA State Parks with the removal of invasive plants, including European Holly and blackberry bushes, from Squak Mountain.

Years ago there was a Holly farm in the neighborhood and because European Holly spreads well in our climate it is very prolific and eventually chokes out our Western WA native plants. They will provide know how and most tools, but this is a big project so they need your help! 

WHEN AND WHERE:

Date & Time: Thursday, November 21, 2024, 9 AM - 12 PM
Meeting Location: Squak Mountain Trail Parking at May Valley Loop Trailhead. We will meet in the parking lot and walk up the hill together on the trail with tools.

WHAT TO BRING:

Closed-toed shoes are required. Please dress in layers for the weather (don’t forget your rain gear if rain is in the forecast) and in long sleeves and pants you don't mind getting dirty. Bring a full water bottle, warm drink, and snacks. If you have gloves and pliers (for the small roots), please bring them.

Learn more and register here.

Registration required.

YMCA of Greater Seattle’s Outdoor Leadership Team is hosting a Networking Event for King County area environmental professionals. Join us on October 16 at Stoup Brewing – Capitol Hill location in Seattle to engage with environmental professionals of all types who value youth-driven projects and programs that address community needs, create leadership development opportunities, and amplify youth voices in the environmental field. This event invites professionals from across the environmental and education sectors to share insights, collaborate on innovative solutions, and foster partnerships.

Check out the Eventbrite for more details and to let us know you’re coming. Feel free to share out with other folks you think might be interested, too!

Spokane, WA

E3 WA and the Washington Science Teachers Association (WSTA) are co-hosting a statewide science teacher professional learning conference in Spokane, Washington this October. Environmental Educators are strongly encouraged to attend. Organizations are invited to support the event by hosting an Exhibitor’s Booth or sponsoring the event to gain visibility with this statewide audience.

Learn more and register here.

You’re invited! The Mountains to Sound Greenway Trust is hosting a Greenway National Heritage Area Meetup on Thursday, October 10th, from 5-7 pm at the Seattle REI Flagship store. Please join us, members of the public, and other heritage professionals to “Discover your National Heritage Area.”  The event is free and open to the public, and you can sign up here to join us: RSVP.

Having a strong family support base is key to the longevity of a garden program. Join us in learning how Wasatch Community Gardens in Utah involve their language-rich community!

Presenters will include:
- Kimberly Yapias, School and Family Garden Manager at Wasatch Community Gardens in Salt Lake City, UT
- Emily Büchi, Youth and School Program Director at Wasatch Community Gardens in Salt Lake City, UT

This webinar is a part of a webinar series highlighting participants of the 2023 SGSO Leadership Institute, hosted by Life Lab in partnership with Whole Kids Foundation and the SGSO Network. Every year, the SGSO Leadership Institute provides an opportunity for selected SGSO leaders from across the country to collaborate, learn from one another, and develop resources to share with a national audience.

This webinar will be recorded and archived on the Recording Library section of our Webinars page.

Learn more and register here.

Internships are a great way to involve youth more deeply in garden programming while giving them important job skills. Learn how educators from Durham, NC and Victoria, BC structure their programs!

This webinar, “Queering Ecology & Breaking Barriers with LGBTQ+ Conservation Leaders” will introduce the concepts, principles, and research behind Queer Ecology. We will discuss and explore the fascinating intersections of ecology and queer theory, challenging traditional binaries in gender, sexuality, and nature to enhance scientific understanding and promote inclusivity in the outdoors. Event details and information on how to register is below. 

When: Thursday, June 6th, 12-1 pm PT / 3 - 4 pm ET
Where: Register for this virtual webinar today! 

With Artist and Author Leah Marie Dorion
Jump into summer and join Métis artist Leah Marie Dorion as she shares stories and connection to the Land and Summer Solstice from her books. She will discuss her art and illustrations and how to celebrate summer cycles from a Metis point of view. You will have the opportunity to participate in a live art class with Leah and ask questions about Métis culture and outdoor learning.

Whether you're brand new or just wanting to know how to get more involved or more deeply understand our resources, join us for this hour to learn more about our programs and how we can help your school garden programming. You'll also get a taste of what we seek to do as a network: connect our members with one another and continually gather feedback on what you need to be successful in your programs. As a result, there will be time to meet other folks on the call and time to engage in a listening session where you'll share your biggest school garden challenges, needs, and solutions.

This webinar will be recorded and archived on the Recording Library section of our Webinars page.

Speaker: Betsy Goodrich, Forest Pathologist, USDA-FS

The WOW-WA Spring 2024 Webinar Series registration is now open! Join us to learn about common forest health concerns, management techniques, and resources available to help you reach your stewardship goals. The webinar series is hosted via Zoom from 6 to 7 p.m. and recordings are available to anyone who is registered. Dates and topics are as follows:

Click HERE to register! We welcome anyone to participate regardless of gender. Zoom access links will be sent to participants upon registration.

Orca Month 2024: From Orcas to Humans
Clean Water, Healthy Futures

Date & Time: May 29th, 5:30-6:30 PM Pacific Time

Hosts: Salish Sea Institute, Orca Salmon Alliance, The Foundation for WWU & Alumni

Orca Month, started by Orca Network, was created to bring together researchers, advocates and a growing community of orca lovers to raise awareness about the threats facing Southern Resident orcas. Now in its 18th year, Orca Month has spread from Washington to Oregon and British Columbia and includes educational and celebratory events throughout the month of June.

This year's Orca Month theme is Clean Water, Healthy Futures. Toxic pollution and contaminants in the environment are one of the three main threats facing orcas. Southern Residents in particular are susceptible to the impacts of toxics when combined with low prey availability. Join us for this special Orca Month opening webinar to hear from experts in the field who will provide an overview of common toxic substances and how they get into the water; how these toxic substances impact fish and killer whales; why people in low income and BIPOC communities experience disproportionate harm from these pollutants; and how we can take action to stop these pollutants from entering our waterways.