Middle & High School Programs

Plastic is such a useful material, we have become dependent on it in nearly everything we use —  if it doesn’t contain plastic, then it’s built with plastic or packaged in plastic. With all this plastic everywhere, we face the problem of managing this waste, single-use plastics in particular. This course examines the uses of plastics and identify how our discarded plastics are entering watersheds and negatively affecting life in our oceans and freshwater. Since China no longer accepts most of the world’s plastic recycling, we help students think creatively about solutions to problematic plastic waste.

Roughly 40% of food grown or raised in the U.S. is not eaten, while paradoxically one in six Americans lives in a food-insecure household. Students will examine the complexities of our food system and the social and environmental impacts of how food is grown, distributed, and wasted. In their individual lives, students will think critically about food’s ecological footprint, learn the basics of composting, and discuss the climate impacts of food waste. Through interactive lessons and action projects, students will integrate their learning and apply their creativity to possible solutions, from the household to the global scale.

The United States makes up 5% of the world’s population, but consumes 25% of the world’s resources. How can we see through the marketing, packaging, and cheap prices into the real issues behind consumerism to become wiser shoppers? Students will examine the reasons we buy so much, and what the subsequent impacts are on the environment and on people. Students will look behind the veneer of fast fashion and consumption marketing to explore the social injustices, ecological impacts, strategies, and motivations of the fashion industry.

Did you know the average American throws away 4.5 pounds of garbage a day? Tap into student’s creativity as they give new life to items previously destined for the landfill. Students will learn the importance of diverting materials from landfills using the 5 R’s of sustainability — Reduce, Refuse, Reuse, Repair, and Recycle — focusing on reuse. Students will learn about artists who use repurposed materials in their art pieces, and the many whimsical and practical household items that can be made from repurposed materials.  Action project ideas include making a reusable, no-sew bag from a t-shirt.

Ever wonder how well your school is separating recyclables and compostables? We’ll help you find out by providing the tools and education for your students to sort through waste bins at school to discover ways to improve waste diversion at your school. After performing a waste audit, students will choose an action based on the data they collected during waste audit, showcasing what materials are most often found in the incorrect bin.

“The climate crisis is the largest threat to every single person and living thing on this planet.” — Nadia Nazar, 17-year-old climate activist.

In what ways are youth taking action, organizing new movements around the climate crisis and promoting the protection of our earth? Governments, corporations, cities, and schools aren’t doing enough to slow the effects of climate change, and this generation is raising their voices. Learn how Indigenous youth, climate refugees, and passionate students are standing up for climate justice. Students will have an opportunity to brainstorm changes they want to see at school, in the community, state, country, and world. This workshop is designed as an add-on after students have received at least one other workshop.

Geared toward middle school students, our interactive workshop connects students to current issues of water conservation by introducing the myriad of resources required to filter and move water from Lake Whatcom to the tap, and from the tap to the ocean. Students will engage in an interactive activity illustrating how water is a finite resource and how access to water is distributed. Students will apply this learning to their lives by taking a look at their own daily water use — including less-obvious uses like clothing and food — using a personal water consumption calculator. Learning is deepened by asking students to make a change to their personal consumption, track how their usage changes, and calculate their savings to report back to their peers. Contact us for more information. Provided on behalf of the City of Bellingham, for schools within city limits. 

What we do on land affects the health of our watershed. Every time it rains, water flows from impervious surfaces (like roofs and pavement), carrying pollution directly into nearby creeks, rivers, and bays. This is called stormwater — and it’s Washington’s biggest source of pollution into Puget Sound. Students will discover how everyday activities contribute to pollution that impacts water quality, the sources of non-point source pollution, and how pollutants move through the watershed. Then students think critically about how we can utilize Best Management Practices to reduce stormwater pollution entering our watersheds. This workshop pairs well with the 6th-grade field trip on the Snowgoose boat. Contact us for more information. Provided on behalf of the City of Bellingham, for schools within city limits. 

Our Young Water Stewards program teaches high school students in rural Whatcom County the science of clean water, and how they can keep our water resources clean. Through stewardship activities, hands-on learning, and a science-based approach, high school-aged participants will gain experience with water quality testing and analysis, Best Management Practices, and mitigation techniques. They will develop valuable skills and apply their learning to protect the health of our drinking water, creeks, lakes, and beaches.

Students will learn about watersheds, sources of non-point water pollution, and the complex barriers to clean water. Students will take a tour of several areas within their local watersheds, conducting water quality sampling at diverse locations. Contact us for more information.