Birdwatching is never a sure thing, especially in the Pacific Northwest in December. Throw in an atmospheric river dumping record levels of precipitation and the odds of observing local species in their natural habitat drop dramatically, as participants in a recent workshop learned when their outdoor bird observation
From a student summit in January to PEI’s Asynchronous Course in November, our team has experienced memorable moments throughout 2025, including navigating state and federal budget challenges. Here are our top five most-read stories from this year along with two honorable mentions: #1. Bidding Farewell to Half the
A good indicator of whether a teacher training is effective is how soon educators plan to apply what they’ve learned with students. For educators at one recent PEI workshop, that answer was ‘tomorrow.’ “People said they planned to use these resources the next day,” says Emily Newman, PEI’s
If you combine built-in relevance, self-paced instruction and affordability, what do you get? PEI’s Asynchronous Course, an online opportunity for educators to explore aspects of FieldSTEM’s integrated learning model, gain an understanding of the impact outdoor experiences have on student growth and health, and reinforce the value of
It’s been a year of financial uncertainty for nonprofits, especially those reliant on state or federal funding. But instead of competing with other organizations for a shrinking pool of resources, groups can share funding and collaborate to leverage the strengths of each. It’s a lesson that educators in
It’s hard to imagine a more attention-getting activity for students of all ages than the Soil Your Undies Challenge. The name alone evokes questions, and the process is a memorable way for students to understand the multiple factors impacting soil health, as 21 K-12 educators learned at an
Before he joined the Careers in Conservation/Youth Engaged in Sustainable Systems (YESS) program, Carlos Reyes described himself as ‘not too into the outdoors.’ Today, the YV-TECH senior is one of the first students to get a job in the field after completing the program. “The program had a
As part of the Explora Budd event series—funded through the Inspire Olympia grant for Science, Culture, and the Arts—the Pacific Education Institute (PEI) invited families to gather at Shelter 4 in Squaxin Park on October 4. This second installment featured an interpretive bird and marine life walk led
by Lourdes Flores, Simbiosis Consulting More than 60 people stopped by the Port Plaza on September 20th during celebrations of Latino Conservation Week to check out the Thurston County watershed map that the City of Olympia created. Adults and children alike located their neighborhood and accurately identified their
This summer, 112 students participated in eight Youth Engaged in Sustainable Systems (YESS) programs across Washington State. Each program was a partnership between PEI, school districts, and at least 87 local community partners. This year, participation increased 86% from 2024, when PEI served 60 students across six programs.
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