Green Jobs Pathways

Digging In: YESS 2025 Program Recap

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.

Student participants received $152,897 in stipend funding from a variety of grants and partners.

So, what did the students think? Ninety percent said YESS helped them feel more prepared to pursue their career goals, 80% reported increased self-confidence, 97% would recommend the program to another student, and 97% were ‘Very Satisfied’ or ‘Satisfied’ with their experience. The top three reasons students registered for YESS: 1) add to resume 2) learn about career options and 3) be outside.

PEI extends a special thanks to Washington’s Department of Natural Resources (WA DNR) for helping support each YESS program in the state.

Here’s an overview of each site’s incredible work:

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Community Partnerships

WWU’s CREST Project Transforms Professional Development

In some ways, Western Washington University’s (WWU) CREST program more closely resembles a summer camp or even what one teacher jokingly referred to as a ‘teaching spa’ than a typical professional development session. 

“The whole second week is about treating teachers as experts, and we like to say we’re the fairy godmothers that week,” says D. Debi Hanuscin, Professor of Elementary Education, Science, Math & Technology at WWU. “We get their materials, make their copies and serve them so that they can do the important work of teaching, not all the grunt and prep work.” 

But make no mistake, deep professional development is occurring – it just may look a bit different than what most teachers are used to. CREST stands for Culturally Responsive Elementary Science Teaching, a two-year research project through WWU. During two weeks on the university’s campus, elementary educators became familiar with Explore the Salish Sea (ESS), a place-based science curriculum with a strong Indigenous focus, before putting it into practice the following week with students. ESS is available on PEI’s website and PEI’s team has been facilitating cohort sessions using the ESS curriculum for the past two years.

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Multicultural Programming

Explora Budd at Port Plaza! An Event of Pacific Education Institute During Latino Conservation Week

IMore 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 own watershed, promoting watershed stewardship.

Through a grant from the Inspire Olympia through the City of Olympia, PEI assembled a team of fantastic and enthusiastic multicultural educators to promote stewardship of Budd Inlet and the Deschutes Watershed. Olympia Community Sailing, Pacific Shellfish Institute (PSI), South Sound Bird Alliance, Washington State Department of Natural Resources (DNR), and LOTT Clean Water Alliance presented engaging activities for participating families to learn and steward the vibrant Deschutes watershed.

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Tools & Tips for Teachers

Clean Water, Healthy Fish

Salmon are running, or will be soon, which makes it a great time for this lesson for 3rd and 4th grade students. They'll learn about stormwater pollution's impact on fish habitats and the importance our stormwater clean, plus learn the phrase, 'Only rain down the drain!'

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Upcoming Events 

  With Gratitude

Thank you September investors!