Education >> Maxwelton Outdoor Classroom >> Service Learning
Watershed education is the basis of all we do at Whidbey Watershed Stewards. It is the work that launched our organization and it continues to be central to our mission. Whether working with K-5 students, with middle and high school students, or with adults, we focus on imparting good science and stewardship information on watersheds.

The idea of an outdoor learning center, where K-5 students could have more hands-on environmental experiences, grew out of work with students on the salmon life cycle. Property was found, money was raised by many community helpers, and the 6-acre site was purchased in 1995. The Maxwelton Outdoor Classroom became a reality in 1997.

In recent years, we have expanded our educational offerings to grades 6-12 and community colleges by focusing on service-learning, using the entire watershed as a classroom. Service-learning engages young people in solving problems within their schools and communities as part of their academic studies.

In response to the increased interest in this teaching method, MSA created a Service-Learning Directory of possible activities for classes and the individual culminating projects now required for graduation.

We regularly provide watershed science projects for homeschool students and special-interest groups such as the Whidbey Island Waldorf School and Boy & Girl Scout groups. We have worked with AmeriCorps students on several projects and would be an excellent resource for college students as research interns and program assistants.

We also reach adults and the South Whidbey community by presenting lectures, performances, tours and workshops on various aspects of maintaining healthy watersheds. Even our fundraisers are educational!

Adult volunteers are critical to our programs. We welcome your participation. Please join us for Outdoor Classroom lessons, as a high school project mentor, or on restoration projects!