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Our Mission and History
Nature Vision fosters appreciation and stewardship of our environment by educating and connecting community to the world around us. We envision an inspired and connected culture where everyone makes choices for a sustainable future.
Take a look at what we offer here!
Our Commitment to Inclusion, Equity, Diversity, and Accessibility
At Nature Vision our staff and board have made the following commitments to Inclusion, Diversity, Equity and Accessibility (IDEA) within our organization.
We are committed to:
• Providing inclusive, relevant, accessible, and equitable environmental education to all students with the goal of creating sustainable, healthy communities.
• Creating a welcoming and safe environment for community members of diverse socioeconomic, cultural, racial, ability, gender, sexual, religious, and other identities.
• Continuously improving our understanding and cultural competency through reflection, professional development, antiracist pedagogy, and community feedback.
• Purposefully engaging with students, educators, funders, and communities who reflect the socioeconomic and cultural diversity of the Pacific Northwest.
• Reflecting the diversity of the communities we serve within our staff and board.
• Promoting equitable and transparent access to our organization and field.
Our Programs
Nature Vision is an environmental education nonprofit organization that brings place based, experiential nature programming directly to schools and local greenspaces. We now also provide remote learning programs for students. We work to ensure that all students receive quality nature connections where they need them the most. Nature Vision serves over 70,000 Pre-K through 12th grade students each year in King and Snohomish Counties.
Our programming supports the Washington State K-12 Learning Standards and STEM Education and can be easily integrated into schools. Many of our lessons set conceptual foundations and repeat visits help connect one lesson with another.
Nature Vision facilitates student access to nature and scientific concepts, thus developing a deep-rooted student interest in making the natural world a necessary and integrated part of daily life.
Nature Vision was originally the King County Nature Connections program. In 2003 when budget cuts eliminated the county program, dedicated staff transformed the program into a non-profit organization (501c3).
All Nature Vision staff are fully vaccinated for COVID-19.
Our Main Programs Include:
Now available remotely and in-person. Nature in the Classroom: Nature Vision offers 1 hour inquiry-driven programs in classrooms or other venues focusing on cycles, ecosystems, interdependence, biodiversity, and much more.
In-person Habitat Exploration Field Trips: These programs are offered to students and community groups in the classroom and outdoors, and focus on habitat connections including: Stream, Wetland, Forest, Puget Sound, and Aquifers.
Outdoor water related field trips are sponsored by various funders and are available for free to school groups, homeschools, parent groups, and micro-schools. Custom field trips pricing available as well for a variety of topics.
Explore a local lake, wetland, pond, or park on an outdoor water related field trip! Students can observe plants, animals, and their environment. They will have the opportunity to examine and identify local freshwater invertebrates, and learn about the health of our greater watershed systems. Older students may also participate in water quality tests for oxygen, pH, temperature, and more.
Now available remotely and in-person. Watershed Programs: Nature Vision works in partnership with many local cities and water districts to bring free water education programming to local schools within service areas. These programs allow students to make connections to local water bodies and ecosystems, understand pollution issues, and learn to protect and conserve water.
Now available remotely and in-person. Blue Teams: K-12 Students become a “Blue Team,” with Nature Vision by completing a stewardship project in their community related to watershed health, such as invasive plant removal, native plant restoration, planting waterwise gardens, finding and fixing leaks, and much more.
Now available remotely and in-person. Community Science: Nature Vision provides students with the tools and skills to collect water quality data and assist with scientific research in their communities. These classes can be scheduled either as a 3-part program or as part of a longer “Blue Team” project.
In person Preschool Education: We operate the Nature Vision Preschool at Farrel-McWhirter Park. We also offer specialty preschool programming year round.
In-person Outdoor Discovery Days, Science Fairs, After School Programs: We offer specialty programs for schools and community groups who would like an outdoor day incorporating several integrated programs, or a specialist to present at their science fair.
In-person Day Camps: Nature Vision offers day camps in partnership with the City of Redmond at Farrel-McWhirter Park, City of Shoreline, and City of Sammamish.