December 2014 Newsletter Vol. 2 No. 1 SEA: Bringing Learning to Life in 2014 Dear Friends of SEA: 2014 has been a good year. Our mission feels as vital and important as ever: to promote engagement with community and spirited environ- mental stewardship by connecting youth and adults in real-world learn- ing and meaningful service in the Puget Sound region. We achieve this thanks to creative collaborations and the generous sup- port of individuals, allies and organi- zations who share our vision. Here’s what one high school student said aſter participating in a 2014 SEA program: e field trip was arguably the best learning experience I’ve had in my senior year. It was thrilling to be outdoors in the forest, learning from my experience rath- er than a worksheet or PowerPoint. I loved being able to put my hands on what we were studying – the soil, the trees, the environment itself. e lessons I learned on the field trip will stick with me for a long time. Every walk I’ve been on since, I can’t help but identify the species of all the trees I pass by. e enthusiasm of our guides was contagious and ex- citing. I hope the program continues to benefit others as it benefited me. April 2014 was Whidbey Earth and Ocean Month. With the support of a Puget Sound Partnership grant, this month’s activities reached over 800 Whidbey Island- ers from the south end to the north end of the island. Our “Science While Sipping” Pub Talks offered com- munity members the chance to learn from experts about noxious weeds and the future of fish. At South Whidbey High School, a “Puget Sound Starts Here” Earth Day event included presentations for over 500 students. e day featured a talk by keynote speaker Vicki Robin, Whidbey resident and author of the recently pub- lished “Blessing the Hands that Feed Us”, which addresses themes of local eating and environmental sustainability. In the spring, SEA also partnered in delivering a Celebrate the Water day at South Whidbey State Park. is event was coordinated by the Na- ture Education Network partners - Ca- lyx Community Arts School, SEA, and Friends of South Whidbey State Park. 200 people showed up to enjoy the park’s rich saltwater shoreline and tidelands, and engage with presentations, interac- tive displays, hikes, games, exhibitions. One highlight was the Integrating Sci- ence and Art activity. Lauren Atkinson, Calyx Mentor/ Teaching Artist, said: “To have the time and space to guide children in ob- serving the natural world, in a beautiful forest class- room is a powerful tool to support a child in developing their conscious creative practice. Painting the flickering reflections in the stream we are observing, deepens our understanding for our earth. It reveals the depth of this connection with the trees, the ferns and all the animals that are with us while we quietly paint. A child speaks to how much he loves this forest and how beautiful it is to him, as he shares his painting.” With the support of the Lucky Seven Foundation and the Tulalip Tribes Charitable Fund, we brought half-day Bring- ing Learning to Life environmental education programs to over 200 students from Langley Middle School, Hillcrest Elementary School, Cascade High School, and Serene Lake Elementary School.