Our home in the forest

Our Home in the Forest, a Discovery Core class at the University of Washington Bothell this autumn quarter, stretches the boundaries of what constitutes a classroom. Not content to study nature at a distance, the faculty leaders and their students went from learning in a typical 900-square-foot room with white walls and carpet flooring to a 326-acre forest, rich with opportunity.

The students were able to learn at St. Edward State Park in Kenmore, Washington, because of a collaboration between UW Bothell, Washington State Parks, local legislators, community members and Daniels Real Estate. Together, they created the Environmental Education & Research Center (EERC), a University-led learning facility designed for the appreciation, study and stewardship of the Pacific Northwest ecosystem.

“The EERC provides students with a field station that is only six minutes away from campus,” said David Stokes, professor in the School of Interdisciplinary Arts & Sciences and co-teacher of the class. “The park itself has a spectacular forest — I believe it is the best in the Seattle metro area.”