Resources

  • Washington Nature Preschool Association

    The Washington Nature Preschool Association is a regional collaborative developed to support nature-based and outdoor early childhood education and teachers while working to meet the goals of connection, PD, resource sharing, community participation, research, and improving preschool education.

     

     

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  • Seward Park Audubon Center

    Protect the birds, and you protect the earth.

    Audubon’s mission is to protect birds and the places they need, today and tomorrow.

    The center strives towards this mission by helping a diverse mix of youth and adults cultivate wonder and develop an insatiable curiosity of the natural world through environmental science, outdoor exploration and play.

    The Center’s programs focus on connecting families to wild spaces in their backyards and providing them with the skills to lead a lifetime of active, outdoor explorations.

    This mission is executed according to the following tactics:

    1) People connect to a cause through sustained engagement.

    2) Fun! Programs are active, creative, playful and engaging.

    3) Young people are encouraged to explore, get muddy, touch and experience nature broadly.

    4) Programs are culturally relevant with schedules that are accessible to low-income families, financial assistance available for all programs, curriculum that reflects our community and staff and volunteers that reflect the demographics of the people we serve.

    5) Excellence in youth work as measured by the Youth Program Quality Assessment (YPQA).

    6) Collaboration and partnership is emphasized.  Allies make our reach broader and our impact greater.

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  • North Cascades Institute

    CONNECTING PEOPLE, NATURE AND COMMUNITY THROUGH EDUCATION SINCE 1986

    North Cascades Institute inspires and empowers environmental stewardship for all through transformative educational experiences in nature

    Since 1986, we have helped connect people, nature and community through science, art, literature and the hands-on study of the natural and cultural history of the Pacific Northwest. Our goal is to help people of all ages experience and enjoy the mountains, rivers, forests, people and wildlife of the Pacific Northwest – so all will care for and protect this special place.

    North Cascades Institute is committed to innovation and excellence in environmental learning and leadership in the nonprofit community.

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  • Outdoor Leadership Training- Gear Lending Library!

    Washington Trails Association’s Outdoor Leadership Training program gets school-age youth outside by empowering teachers and youth groups with the skills and resources they need to lead safe and fun outdoor experiences.

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  • Nature for Health

    Nature for Health

    Chronic diseases and mental health conditions are common and disabling, with conditions such as obesity, heart disease and depression among the top public health priorities of our time. The treatment costs of these health challenges are rising and healthcare providers are struggling to provide effective care to all in need. In addition, significant disparities in access to health care and health outcomes exist.

    According to the best available evidence, contact with nature offers considerable promise in addressing a range of health challenges. Many studies show that time spent in nature is associated with better mental and physical health, including lower stress, reduced anxiety, lower blood pressure and other benefits to human health. Potential advantages can also lead to lowered health costs.

    Many critical questions about how nature benefits health remain to be answered, such as what types of exposures to nature are most beneficial? What dose of nature is needed to have the desired effect? Where are the greatest inequities in access to nature and how can those be inequities be eliminated?

    Nature for Health at University of Washington is launching a robust program of research to generate answers to these questions and more. In collaboration with other researchers, practitioners and policy makers, we seek to further our understanding of the impacts of nature on human health, having the potential to shape policies, programs and the landscapes we inhabit. Nature for Health currently focuses on five sectors—veterans, children, the elderly, healthcare providers and underserved populations.

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  • Every Kid Outdoors

    Marvel at the St. Louis Arch, the Florida Keys, and the Frederick Douglass house. Listen to wolves howl. Walk in dinosaur tracks. Look up into the inky night sky, and reach for the stars!

    These sites belong to all of us — including you.

    Every Kid in a Park was created so fourth graders and their families could discover our wildlife, resources, and history for free.

    Our country is full of dazzling landscapes where you can play and learn. They protect our wildlife and resources. They let us look into the past and protect our history. Keeping them public supports a healthy planet.

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  • Washington Trails Association

    Hiking with Kids

    You don’t need to pack your hiking gear away when you have kids! Spending time outdoors with your little ones is a great opportunity to make memories, develop a real connection to the natural world and get exercise and fresh air.

    If you are looking for some help planning in your next family adventure, Washington Trails Association has just what you need. Visit the the WTA website today to learn about ways to go hiking with kids.

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  • Outdoor Childhood Puget Sound

    A facebook group for moms, dads, grandparents, caregivers and educators in the Puget Sound region who are interested in helping kids live a healthier and happier childhood by spending more time outdoors. We share tips, events, interesting articles and ideas for how to get our kids playing outdoors and connected to nature. In this digital age that can be a tough feat, so we also share our struggles as we all try to find a way to prioritize outdoor time in our lives. This group is for all of us, so please share! Post a photo from your recent hike, tell us all about a new playground you discovered, share an outdoor-related event in the area, ask a question or share a challenge. Please read our guidelines first, and then feel free to post! We’d also love your input on what you’d like to see covered. Any topic related to kids, play and the outdoors is fair game. We’re interested in seeing the questions that emerge from this group and how we might address them together. Please invite your friends and family members to join our group, too. WHO ARE WE? We are a group of Seattle-area parents and writers who found each other because we care about connecting kids (and adults!) to the outdoors. This issue is a huge one for the age we live in, so join us in this discussion.

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  • Urban Hiking with Seattle Parks and Recreation

    Plan your next urban hike. Seattle has miles of developed and semi-developed trails. Trail conditions can vary depending on recent weather, time of year, and other impacts. Check out Seattle Parks and Recreation’s hiking map here. Also available is an app that maps out trails.

    Seattle Trails Ap

    Seattle Trails shows you where all the official trails in Seattle are. This app has been built as an open-source project by volunteers to improve the experience of getting outdoors in Seattle. It is a collaboration between Seattle Parks & Recreation Department, Seattle Trails Alliance and volunteer software developers. Download the App here. 

     

     

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  • City of Seattle Boating & Sailing

    Seattle has a long maritime history with a one of the highest levels of pleasure boats per capita anywhere in the United States. We have many gorgeous waterways to enjoy by canoe, kayak, sailboat, motorboat, and more. We also offer sailing sailing and rowing class are our small craft centers.

    Rowing & Sailing Centers and Classes

    Green Lake Small Craft Center

    Green Lake Small Craft Center is located at the southwest “corner” of Green Lake in North Seattle and offers a wide variety of boating and rowing classes during daylight hours. For more information, visit the Green Lake Small Craft Center page.

    Mount Baker Rowing and Sailing Center

    Mt. Baker Rowing and Sailing Center is located on Lake Washington at Stan Sayres Park, about midway between Seward Park and the I-90 floating bridge in south east Seattle. This facility has many classes for a variety of skill levels. The facilities are also available for rent and feature lovely views of Lake Washington. See more on the Mount Baker Rowing and Sailing Center page.

    Moorages

    Seattle has two long-term mooring facilities:

    Lakewood Moorage at Lake Washington Boulevard and S. Genesee St.
    Leschi Moorage at Lakeside Avenue S off E Alder St.

    Parks and Recreation does not offer short term overnight moorage. Please see our Marinas page for more information and slip availability.

    Determination of Nonsignificance (DNS)
    The following document contains information and details for the DNS issued on May 21, 2018.
    Download the Lake Washington Marinas State Environmental Policy Act (SEPA) DNS document

    Boat Launches

    We have 7 motorized boat launches and 20+ hand carry boat launches across the city. Find a boat launch in your area and set sail with us!

    Anchorage

    Andrews Bay Anchorage, located in Seward Park, is a short term anchorage on Lake Washington under City of Seattle. The approved area is defined by two buoys marked with “A” indicating the northwest and southwest corners of the anchorage zone. Shore markers note the northeast and southeast corners. Anchorage is limited ONLY to this area. A 72 hour maximum stay within any seven day period is permitted.

    Download the Anchorage Map

    Tie Ups

    Tie-up is limited to 15 minutes, unless otherwise noted. At docks and other shoreline sites, tie-up is limited to 2 hours, unless otherwise noted.

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