PROGRAMS
SCHOOL PROGRAMS
ESC serves elementary school students as its primary emphasis. Our two-part field-based programs target grades K-6 and combine visual aids (slides, puppets, art), creative dramatics, and field trips to engage all learning styles and reinforce learning. Typically, a one hour classroom session is followed by a 90-minute inquiry-based field program at a location such as Seahurst Park or the Normandy Park Cove. Education in the environmental setting encourages students to think critically and creatively and effectively guides them in learning about the relationship between human actions and their impact on the natural world. School programs are based on curricula aligned with Washington State Essential Academic Learning Requirements (EALRs) and Environmental Education Standards.
Registration forms for each program are available for download at the bottom of each program listing. There are Word Document and PDF versions. The Word version may be filled out and emailed to the address on the form, or either version can be printed, filled out and mailed to:
Environmental Science Center
attn: Registrations
126 SW 148th Street
Suite C100-170
Burien, WA 98166
The next Moonlight Beach walks will be 7:30 PM to 9:30 PM on Saturday December 4, 2010 and Saturday January 1, 2011. These are unique opportunities to see Seahurst's beach at low tide in the dark. It's a whole different world out there at night, with lots of things you can't see during the day. See our 2010-2011 flyer for more details.
ESC Course List for 2010-2011
You may download a PDF copy of the ESC Course List which has the same information that is on this page.
You may register by downloading the application form in each section below, filling it out, and emailing it back to the address on the form, or you may print a copy, fill it out, and mail it to the PO Box at the bottom of the form.
This program introduces students to the local Puget Sound beach habitat and the organisms that live there. Beach etiquette and stewardship are stressed! The classroom presentation includes a PowerPoint presentation and a focus specific field guide activity. The field study will be performed at Seahurst Beach.
Teachers will choose from four possible focus areas:
- “Who Am I?”- Identification of Marine Invertebrates (Grades K-2)
- “Who’s My Neighbor?”- Intertidal Zones (Grades 3-4)
- “Who’s My Dinner?”- Predators and Prey of Marine Invertebrates (Grades 4-6)
- “Who’s My Relative?”- Organization of Marine Invertebrates by Phylum (Grades 7-12)
Grades: K-12. Cost: $50 for the 1 hour classroom presentation and $150 for the 1.5 hour field study. *
Registration Form (please select dates from the included list): Word Version PDF Version
There are three 1 hour classroom/field investigation sessions. Students will use the scientific method to collect, measure, and analyze soil samples from two different school ground locations.
- Session One: An overview of the steps involved in planning a field investigation: Forming a hypothesis, Materials, Procedures, Data Collection, and Conclusion.
- Session Two: The data collection phase in which transect lines are used to collect soil from two different locations on the school grounds and tools are used to measure the results.
- Session Three: Students will graph and analyze their data to accept or reject the hypothesis. Students will draw conclusions and recognize variables. Students will connect this information to environmental issues and stewardship practices.
Grades: 4-8. Cost: $200 for three 1 hour classroom/field study sessions. *
Registration Form: Word Version PDF Version
Discover the importance of eelgrass beds found in the Puget Sound in this 1.5 hour classroom presentation. After discussing why and how marine organisms use these underwater meadow-like habitats, students will construct models of eelgrass beds. Students will then identify ways to protect this fragile environment.
Grades: 2-6. Cost: $75 for the 1.5 hour classroom presentation. *
Registration Form: Word Version PDF Version
This program introduces students to the watershed system. The 1.5 hour classroom presentation uses an interactive PowerPoint presentation and group game to discover components of a healthy watershed and water cycle. The 1.5 hour field study investigation takes students to a local water feature such as Walker Creek or Angle Lake to test the quality of the water and identify living and non-living elements present.
Teachers will choose from three focus areas:
- “What Is A Watershed?”- Explore the concept of a watershed; identify your local watershed and examine indicators of watershed health. (Grades K-2)
- “Where Is Your Water Going?”- Examine the difference between a sewer and storm drain; identify street run-off, sustainable uses of a watershed, and examples of watershed restoration. (Grades 2-5)
- “From the Mountains to the Sound!”- Follow the journey of a salmon; identify biotic relationships in your local watershed and illustrate the importance of watershed stewardship practices. (Grades 6-12)
All three focus areas can be offered as a classroom only session.
Grades: K-12. Cost: $75 for the 1.5 hour classroom presentation and $150 for the 1.5 hour field study. *
Registration Form: Word Version PDF Version
This program explores the lifecycle of salmon, provides hands-on experience with internal/external fish anatomy, identifies salmon habitat needs and limiting factors, and analyzes water quality. The 1 hour classroom presentation and 3 hour field study help students determine their local stream or rivers suitability for salmon as they investigate the health of the Walker/Miller Creek Watershed or Duwamish/Green River Watershed. Students also discover their impact on salmon habitat. The field study includes a large motor skills game. This program can be offered as a classroom only session.
Grades: 4-8. Cost: $50 for the 1 hour classroom presentation and $200 for the 3 hour field study. *
Registration Form (please select dates from the included list): Word Version PDF Version
This program introduces students to their local backyard ecosystems. The 1 hour classroom presentation incorporates a PowerPoint presentation and scavenger hunt. The 1.5 hour field study will be performed at Seahurst Park’s 169 acres of woodland trails.
Teachers will choose from three possible focus areas:
- “Who’s Bugging You?”- Terrestrial Invertebrate Identification (Grades K-2)
- “What’s Under Your Feet?”- Soil and Plants (Grades 2-5)
- “What’s Above Your Head?”- Birds and Biodiversity (Grades 6-12)
All three focus areas can be offered as a classroom only session and can include exploration of the schoolyard for the field study component.
Grades: K-12. Cost: $50 for the 1 hour classroom presentation and $150 for the 1.5 hour field study. *
Registration Form: Word Version PDF Version
* For schools with more than 50% of the student population on free or reduced lunch, please inquire about our program cost fee waiver.
ESC strives for a ratio of 1 instructor for every 12 students in the field in order to provide high quality instruction and personal attention for every student as well as to meet teachers’ requests for specific curriculum emphasis.
Programs are aligned with 2009 Washington State Essential Academic Learning Requirements, Science Standards, and Environmental Education Standards. ESC staff will work with teachers to modify programs to fit their curriculum needs.
The Environmental Science Center is Sponsoring:
Ecology, Environmental Education, Green Careers, GIS Mapping, Habitat Restoration, Marine Science, Sustainability, Stewardship, and Conservation focused
- Get community service hours.
- Meet your graduation requirements.
- Great career, resume and college application experience.
- Conduct research in local environments.
- Use state of the art technology.
- Participate in outdoor field work.
- Help restore local habitats.
For information on how to apply, please view our Culminating Projects Guidelines [PDF format.
You may also view our Culminating Project Mentor List [PDF format].
You may either mail a printed version to the PO Box or email a copy to our <Program Director>SUMMER PROGRAMS
ESC offers summer programs in partnership with the City of Burien's Camp Craz
, New Futures' Marine Camp
and the Highline School District Summer Science Blast Camp
. All our offerings are designed to contribute to student appreciation and enjoyment of science - a key to students becoming self-directed learners and gaining confidence in this core competency. In the future, as staff capacity allows, ESC plans to extend offerings to fill most of the summer weeks.
The Environmental Science Club
The Environmental Science Club was a program aimed at getting students outside while providing experiential environmental education. This was a pilot program, which began in September 2009 as an after school program at Madrona and Bow Lake Elementary schools and during school breaks at Des Moines. The last group was at Bow Lake Elementary with a family celebration. This program reached over 125 students through a generous "No Child Left Inside" grant from the Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission.
RESTORATION PROGRAMS
The ESC seeks partnerships with organizations that are implementing local restoration projects to determine if there is an education and outreach component the ESC can deliver. We specialize in projects that will benefit the health of the Puget Sound ecosystem. Currently, ESC is annually monitoring the south Seahurst Park beach restoration site using habitat and biodiversity metrics, performing forage fish egg monitoring at the same site and is a partner in the City of Burien's Shorewood Park Adopt-a-Park program for the removal of invasive plants in a 3 acre site a half mile from Puget Sound. ESC also participates in the Seahurst Park and Eagle Landing Park Adopt-a-Park programs.
ADULT / FAMILY PROGRAMS
We offer week night and weekend programs on an ongoing basis. ESC has offered a variety of program formats in
the past: lectures — e.g. Oil Spill Disaster- Is Burien Ready
; Family- Friendly outdoor programs- e.g. Salmon at Seahurst, Beach Critters at Seahurst Park, Starlight Beach Walk and adult recreation/educational- e.g. Puget Sound Geology from Your Kayak. Future plans include a speaker's series similar to our popular The Science of Seahurst.