Inclusive Environmental Education Pathway

Katrina, a previous CoSEE intern, leading a Bee Monitoring event for their internship.
Ash, CoSEE intern, showing the Salmon Signs that are around O.O. Denny Park for community awareness and use.

This pathway centers inclusive, place-based environmental education through program design, hands-on learning tools, and accessible storytelling. Interns help create, adapt, and deliver environmental education experiences that are engaging, culturally responsive, and accessible to learners of all ages and abilities. Interns collaborate with CoSEE staff and community partners to design new programs, develop portable environmental education kits, and support an adaptive, multisensory children’s library. The work emphasizes equity, creativity, and real-world application, meeting learners where they are and expanding who environmental education is for.

Projects may include:

  • Design and lead inclusive environmental education programs at the EERC and in community spaces
  • Create, test, and refine hands-on, place-based environmental education kits
  • Adapt activities for different ages, abilities, and learning environments
  • Co-design accessible children’s books with communication boards and interactive elements
  • Support the development of an inclusive reading nook and adaptive library
  • Collaborate with community partners to pilot and improve programming
  • Work on fulfilling orders for the 3D Printer Program, by printing accessible items as well as possible pieces to go along with adapted books
  • Co-lead nature walks at Saint Edward State Park in collaboration with state parks
A photo of CoSEE’s 3D Printer that will be used to make accessible items for those with mobility needs as well as to make items to go along with CoSEE’s Adaptive Library Initiative.
A photo of a previous nature walk co-led by Washington State Parks and CoSEE staff, faculty, or interns.

Past project highlights

UW Seattle Capstone student working on Adaptive Library

A previous UW Seattle Capstone Intern, Kaylin Datwyler, helped to further grow the Adaptive Library at CoSEE. Her project included reading, adapting, and putting together 5 environmental STEAM-based picture books for those who use augmentative and alternative communication (AAC). These adaptations were interactive features like picture symbols and sensory pieces, as well as communication boards uniquely designed for each book. She also conducted research on effective strategies to make educational materials more accessible and engaging in which her methods included a Literature Review and creating a database for CoSEE’s current books in categories and age groups.

Kaylin, previous CoSEE intern, working on assembling the adaptations for the book, Mushrooms Know.
Interactive features added to the book, Over and Under the Pond, with mirrors as well as vocab icons and engaging questions.

UW Bothell Capstone student working on early childhood environmental education

A UW Bothell Capstone student, Hayley Ren, helped bring pollinator education to life for young learners at CoSEE. Her project centered on the creation and support of the Bee 101 event, designed to introduce young children to the world of bees and their importance to local ecosystems. Hayley also developed a hands-on bee house creation kit, giving children and families a tangible, take-home way to continue supporting pollinators long after the event.

Hayley reading a bee themed book at her Bee 101 event at the EERC.
Hayley, previous CoSEE intern, showcasing all of the materials used for her Bee 101 event.

Blogs on this pathway