IslandWood

Join us November 17 for our lecture event, “Digging Into Nature: Outdoor Adventures for Happier & Healthier Kids.”     We are thrilled to have pediatrician and former IslandWood board member, Dr. Pooja Tandon and pediatrician Dr. Danette Glassy, authors of the new book "Digging Into Nature: Outdoor Adventures for Healthier and Happier Kids," as our featured speakers for the lecture! Learn how connecting kids with nature can improve well-being, foster creativity, and build resilience.    Drawing from their book, Dr. Tandon and Dr. Glassy highlight the essential role of outdoor play and exploration in children’s physical, emotional, and cognitive development.    The event will include a lecture, Q&A, appetizer reception, and signed copies of the book available for purchase.    Get Tickets >> https://bit.ly/3BWYCd7    The lecture is co-sponsored by Bainbridge Island Land Trust and Bainbridge Island Parks & Trails Foundation. We're grateful to these partner organizations & neighbors for their support and collaboration on the event!     #islandwood #bainbridgeisland #outdoorclassroom #outdoorschool #inspiredbynature

We were so lucky to have best-selling author Kristin Hannah as our featured presenter this past weekend for Circle of Friends! Kristin shared so much, including the remarkable adventure of her career, what inspires her books, the research that goes into historical fiction, and helpful advice for new writers. Kristin, we LOVED our time with you and hope you’ll be back to IslandWood soon! Image descriptions: 1. A group pic in front of trees (L-R) with Jeannie Nordstrom, Kristin Hannah, and IslandWood founder Debbi Brainerd 2. A table in IslandWood's Welcome Center with two of Kristin Hannah's books - "The Women" and "The Four Winds" 3. (L-R) Jeannie Nordstrom, Kristin Hannah, and IslandWood founder Debbi Brainerd on the stage in IslandWood's Great Hall 4. Kristin Hannah stops at a table in IslandWood's busy Dining Hall and visits with an attendee 5. Author Kristin Hannah 6. Kristin Hannah sitting at a table and signing a book while an attendee sits next to her. #islandwood #BainbridgeIsland #WomensRetreat #wellnessretreat #womenempowerment

Ray Cramer, IslandWood’s Director of Youth & Family Programs, has recently joined Washington Outdoor School Coalition’s executive committee! He is leading their Community of Practice committee, which works to provide professional learning space for environmental educators at outdoor schools in WA. Yay Ray! 🙌 Image description: a portrait of Ray with trees in the background #islandwood #outdoorschoolwa #waospi #outdoorlearning #outdoorschool #natureclassroom #natureclass

Yesterday, Kate Bedient, IslandWood Director of Urban School Programs, and Celina Steiger, Partnerships Manager, were in Olympia, along with other Outdoor Learning Grant recipients from all over the state! The day included remarks from WA State Superintendent Chris Reykdal, a panel about tribal partnerships, deep dives into WA’s social emotional learning and environmental and sustainability standards, and a review of program evaluations methods and data use. [The Outdoor Learning Grant is funded by OSPI, the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction and administered by the WA State Recreation and Conservation Office. To learn more about grants through the Recreation and Conservation Office, visit rco.wa.gov.] Photo description: Kate Bedient and Celina Steiger (with big smiles!) are seen pointing to IslandWood’s description of our Duwamish River Program on a wall, which included how our team incorporates social emotional learning into the program. #islandwood #outdoorschoolswa #waospi #EducationThroughNature #natureclassroom #environmentaleducation

Escape the everyday and find renewal at the Circle of Friends retreat on Bainbridge Island, Oct 4-6! ✨ This restorative weekend for women features keynote speaker and #1 NYT bestselling author Kristin Hannah, plus creative workshops, delicious food, and the chance to connect with an amazing community. Gather your friends or come solo - all are welcome! ❤️ Get Tickets 🎟️ https://bit.ly/3B0S5O8 Image description: A portrait of author Kristin Hannah #islandwood #BainbridgeIsland #WomensRetreat #wellnessretreat #womenempowerment

Perspective is Everything When Connecting Students to Nature 🌲 Perspective storytelling is a lesson we use with students because of its powerful ability to inspire care for our community and the planet – the very reason we are here! It's a lesson that encourages students to experience the world in a new way – and explicitly, in a way other than their own way of viewing the world. The activity combines two skills: taking the perspective of others (perspective taking) and sharing ideas and information through stories (storytelling). Dr. Priya Pugh, IslandWood Graduate Program Senior Faculty, and Natalie A., IslandWood Graduate Program, Class of ‘23 & current University of Washington Master’s in Education grad student, share what perspective storytelling entails and its impact on students. Read the blog post >> https://bit.ly/4a1TalF Image description: A student holding a magnifying glass is looking at a leaf #IslandWood #IslandWoodGrad #IslandWoodGraduate #environmentalist #environmentalscience #environmentaleducation #environmentalism #greeneducation #greenlearning

For over 20 years, IslandWood has been dreaming big and working to ensure as many kids and educators as possible have access to environmental learning opportunities throughout our region. This Giving Tuesday, your tax-deductible gift to IslandWood helps inspire the future environmental scientists, engineers, policy makers, stewards, and educators that our future needs! Thank you for being an integral part of our community. To donate visit https://bit.ly/47NYyrr #givingtuesday #islkandwood #give #oneforall #sciencecamp #scienceeducation #sciencekids #communewithnature #learnscience #inspiredbynature #learningnature #kidsnatureschool #kidsnature #natureclassroom #natureclass #communityscience #communityscience #environmentalist #environmentalscience #environmentaleducation #greeneducation #greenlearning

We’re pleased to share our fiscal year 2023 Annual Report, celebrating 20 years of IslandWood programs in action!   As founder Debbi Brainerd said, “In the beginning, I never imagined IslandWood would offer so much, or become so integrated into the fabric of our region. Twenty years later, the reach and impact is extraordinary. My vision has been more than fulfilled – it’s unbelievable how it continues to find ways to serve more children and teachers every year.”   It was the community that built IslandWood, and it is the community that sustains IslandWood more than two decades later. Thank you, thank you, thank you! Read the full report >> https://bit.ly/47xLiq4 Image description: 10 images demonstrating different facets of IslandWood's campus and programs featuring teachers, graduates, and children. #islandwood #outdoorschoolforall #outdoorschool4all #natureschool #inspiredbynature #learningnature #kidsnatureschool #kidsnature #natureclassroom #natureclass

We're #hiring a new Registrar and Administrative Coordinator -Urban Programs in Woodinville, Washington. Apply today or share this post with your network.