Community Partnership Highlight: Alyssa Burnett Center

Learning Together Through Inclusive Environmental Education

CoSEE is grateful to continue its long-standing partnership with the Alyssa Burnett Center (ABC) at Seattle Children’s Hospital, a program that supports adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities through enriching educational and community-based experiences.

Throughout the year, CoSEE hosts quarterly visits with ABC students at the Environmental Education and Research Center (EERC) in Saint Edward State Park. These visits are grounded in inclusive, hands-on environmental learning experiences that center curiosity, observation, and connection to place.

Becoming Forest Detectives

During this quarter’s visit, participants explored a central question: How do we know animals are living around us, even when we don’t see them?

Together, we talked about how scientists act as “forest detectives,” using their senses and observation skills to gather clues about the natural world. Rather than relying only on direct sightings, scientists look for evidence, small signs that tell a larger story.

Participants examined examples such as:

  • Feathers and fur
  • Eaten or damaged leaves
  • Animal tracks and scat
  • Subtle movement and sounds in the forest

Through these observations, participants practiced making predictions and hypotheses, learning how evidence can help us understand who we share our environment with.

Using Tools to Understand Wildlife

To deepen this exploration, participants looked at wildlife camera images collected by Dr. David Stokes and CoSEE intern Ash Putzke. These photos provided a glimpse into the animals that move through Saint Edward State Park when people aren’t around or we can’t see them.

Wildlife cameras offer another important tool for scientists, allowing them to gather data over time and better understand patterns of animal activity. Seeing these images helped participants connect their own observations to real scientific practices and research methods.

Exploring the Park

After building their detective skills in the classroom, participants headed out into the park to put their learning into action. On the trail, the group searched for signs of wildlife—both large and small. They discussed animals such as coyotes, bobcats, and otters, while also noticing smaller creatures like snails and slugs that are often overlooked but equally important to the ecosystem.

This outdoor exploration allowed participants to engage directly with the environment, using their senses to observe, question, and interpret what they encountered.

Back in the classroom, participants continued their investigation using a variety of tactile learning tools, including animal skulls and pelts, and track and scat molds. Participants were invited to examine each item closely and use evidence to make predictions about which animals they might belong to.

A Partnership Rooted in Access and Community

At CoSEE, we believe that environmental education should be accessible, inclusive, and engaging for all learners. Our partnership with the Alyssa Burnett Center reflects a shared commitment to creating spaces where everyone can participate in scientific inquiry and build meaningful connections with the natural world.

We are incredibly grateful for the Alyssa Burnett Center and the opportunity to continue learning alongside their community. These visits are not only moments of education, but also moments of connection, curiosity, and shared discovery.

Next quarter student will be come to the EERC for a birding adventure centering how we can support our local bird neighbors.