Our Story & Mission to Build Life-long Stewardship Decisions
The Environmental Science Center, (ESC), provides safe and inclusive outdoor experiences for our community in south King County inspiring a deeper connection with nature and life-long stewardship actions. Our mission is to promote environmental stewardship and academic achievement through science-based education in south King County.
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Purpose & Mission
The Environmental Science Center (ESC) is a nonprofit offering environmental education programs for all ages at beaches, streams, forests, and school gardens in south King County. Founded in 2000 by educators wanting students to experience outdoor learning, ESC inspires environmental stewardship and provides knowledge to deepen community relationships with nature. We strive to include marginalized communities by removing barriers through free or low-cost programs, transportation, translation, and creating safe spaces.
Our focus on fostering conservation values starts with children and families, offering seasonal experiences and school programs combining classroom instruction with field studies. Students learn to analyze ecosystems, understand human impact, and make responsible choices. We also offer after-school, summer programs, adult workshops, high school internships, teen leadership, and restoration projects.
As the community grows, our public programs and events, like nature walks, talks, festivals, and toddler activities, expand, yet environmental stewardship remains central. Our annual community science projects engage all ages in research. Driven by curiosity and care, we eagerly anticipate our community’s future directions.
Honoring this Place
The Environmental Science Center operates from the traditional and stolen homelands of Coast Salish Peoples, specifically the dxʷdəwʔabš (“People of the Inside” – Duwamish), suq̀ʷabš (“People of Clear Salt Water” – Suquamish) and Muckleshoot Tribe. We recognize and honor the land itself and all tribal members of the past, present, and future, including Indigenous teachers and scientists. We are grateful for the ways Indigenous Peoples continue to be caretakers of this land and all that live here, and we acknowledge how their stewardship was disrupted by the theft and colonization of their land. We strive to build reciprocal and respectful relationships with the land and its Peoples and to be in partnership and solidarity with local Tribes and Indigenous communities.
You’ll hear land acknowledgments at the beginning of ESC programs that differ depending on the location, age group and person delivering them. Find out more here.
ESC’s Commitment to Anti-Racism Work
ESC is committed to becoming an inclusive, anti-racist, multicultural organization engaging our community in environmental education and creating safe and affirming outdoor programs for everyone. We are working to model anti-racist practices in our institution and personal behavior and have a Racial Grievance Policy which is intended to support people of color to feel safe in the workplace, for participants to feel welcome during programs, and to actively address and interrupt microaggressions, harassment, racial discrimination, and other racial misconduct. If you choose, your racial grievance will be address by the Racial Grievance Committee is made up of board member Carolina Chambers and staff member Orian Grant.
ESC recognizes that many communities in south King County – particularly Black, Indigenous, people of color, immigrant, refugee, and low-income communities – have been systematically excluded from safe, positive outdoor experiences, and we are striving to change that. We aim to remove some of the barriers to these experiences by providing transportation and free or low-cost programs, translation and interpretation, and by working to create a safe and affirming space within our programs and in the broader community.
1,435
Hours Dedicated
from teens restoring forests in local parks contributing to our ecological health
82%
Of Students
demonstrated an increase in knowledge of protecting healthy habitats
15
New Programs
reaching diverse community members and enhancing access to environmental education
5,815
Volunteer Hours
as well as 8,682 people were reached through various our programs
Vision
Our community is inspired and contributes to a sustainable future through quality environmental science education.
Leading to:
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Increased enjoyment and understanding of environmental science
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Sense of community responsibility for healthy choices that affect the Puget Sound ecosystem
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Improved quality of life and career opportunities through STEM (science, technology, engineering, math)
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Greater representation of diverse communities in STEM occupational fields
Core Values
As long as our interactions align with our core values, we’ll know we CARED.
Community Engagement– Everyone can have positive impacts on their community.
Academic Achievement– Education improves quality of life and career opportunities.
Respect for the Environment– Our environment benefits from choices rooted in respect for the natural world.
Equity and Access– Everyone should have access to quality science education and exploration.
Discovery and Exploration– Mindful hands-on learning opportunities produce intimate, impactful experiences.
