Green Jobs Pathways

High School Program Alumni Earn Jobs in Conservation

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 big impact on me, and I hope I can continue this work in the future,” Reyes says now. 

After two years in the program, Reyes and fellow CIC/YESS student Rene Ibanez joined Mid-Columbia Fisheries Enhancement Group’s (MCFEG) Bull Trout Task Force this summer. The program is a collaborative effort of MCFEG’s Careers in Conservation, the Yakima School District summer school, YV-TECH and Pacific Education Institute (PEI)’s YESS, and was made possible through funding from the Washington Recreation and Conservation Office and the Washington Department of Natural Resources. It is a six-week summer internship that offers high school students credit toward graduation, a stipend, and field-based work experience in natural resources and conservation that leads to an Industry Recognized Credential (IRC).


Read More

Agriculture Education

Fun With Soil Health: Engaging Communities in Agriculture Education

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 Engaging Communities in Agriculture Education workshop in September.

A team from Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) demonstrated the activity, which involves burying new, cotton-based underwear at different sites with varying ecosystem soil conditions. When the underwear is dug up after 60 days, increased microbial activity, an indicator of healthy soil, can be observed.  Underwear buried in healthy soil had hardly a shred of material left other than the synthetic elastic waistband.

Read More

Multicultural Programming

Exploring Budd Inlet: Science, Culture, and Nature at Squaxin Park

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 the South Sound Bird Alliance (SSBA). Participants followed the trail from the park down to Budd Inlet beach, where experts from the Pacific Shellfish Institute and SSBA shared insights into local bird species and marine creatures.

Read More

Regional Campaign

Maximize Your Investment in PEI with Give Local

Early Giving starts on November 3rd for the Community Foundation of South Puget Sound’s Give Local campaign. Regardless of where you live, this is a great opportunity to maximize your contribution to PEI through matching funds. Stay tuned! 

Annual Report

Highlights from the Past Year

Just how many STEM clock hours did PEI award in 2024/25? Find out in our annual report, now available on our website. Enjoy an overview of our work along with a story that perfectly encapsulates PEI’s vision of education and workforce development.

Read More

Tools & Tips for Teachers

PEI's Solutions-Oriented Learning Storyline: Food Waste

One of PEI’s most popular resources, the food waste storyline guides students through a ‘food waste audit’ and they explore the local and global causes of food waste and its impact on the environment. They also study indigenous connections to food and learn how community organizations and agencies deal with food waste. Note: this link is for the 5^th grade storyline. PEI also has food waste storylines for all other grades in our resource library.

Read More

Upcoming Events 

  With Gratitude

Thank you October investors!