ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION PROGRAM

In the fall of 2004, Seabury School entered into a partnership with Dash Point State Park and "adopted" the stream that flows through the park and into Puget Sound. Seabury's older students then began an ongoing project which includes monitoring the stream, collecting data about the habitat and water quality, gathering the history of the stream and its watershed, and working with the park to determine whether or not the stream can be rehabilitated to support a sustainable population of salmon or trout.

Stream study exemplifies the definition of integrated curriculum and real life learning at Seabury. Students use math and science skills to collect information, technology to compile data , higher level thinking skills to interpret their findings, and writing skills to produce scientific reports on their results. Seabury's students get to stretch themselves as they learn to work with professional scientific equipment and analyze data. They also have the opportunity experience working in partnership with other community agencies to make a positive difference in their community.

During the 2005 - 2006 school year, Seabury expanded its environmental education program and is in the process of creating a schoolyard habitat using guidelines created by the National Wildlife Federation. The schoolyard habitat will be created and maintained by the younger students at Seabury, giving them a chance to learn about habitat and prepare for their future involvement in the stream study project. Together, the programs offer a comprehensive, preschool through sixth grade hands-on environmental education program at Seabury, as well as an opportunity for Seabury to contribute in a positive way to our local community.