{"id":913,"date":"2025-11-04T19:27:24","date_gmt":"2025-11-04T19:27:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.uwb.edu\/cosee\/?page_id=913"},"modified":"2025-11-24T17:44:05","modified_gmt":"2025-11-24T17:44:05","slug":"newsletter-october-2025","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.uwb.edu\/cosee\/newsletter-october-2025\/","title":{"rendered":"Newsletter: October 2025"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Welcome to Fall 2025! As the quarter continues, we\u2019re excited to welcome students, faculty, and community partners. This month, we\u2019re also celebrating two exciting updates. See below!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Important Updates<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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New Partnership with the EPA<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

We\u2019re thrilled to share that CoSEE has partnered with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to bring air-quality monitoring sensors to our network. These sensors are part of the national AirNow.gov<\/a> ,. which is program that tracks both indoor and outdoor air quality and wildfire smoke across the country.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Through this initiative, local students will monitor air quality at their schools, hang colored flags (red, yellow, green) based on the day\u2019s readings, and see how their site compares to others in the region. We will have 2-3 sensors within the classroom and the park.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Expanding Our Native Plant Internship Program<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

We\u2019re seeking funding to support five new native plant interns<\/strong> this year! These interns will help maintain and expand the native plant garden at Saint Edward State Park, create educational materials for visitors, and collaborate with the Yard by Yard program<\/strong>. We\u2019re hoping to raise $5,000<\/strong> to sustain this work for the academic year. To contribute, visit our CoSEE donation page<\/a> or contact us at cosee@uw.edu<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n

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Recap & October Highlights<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Lecture: Salmon in Our Neighborhoods<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Thank you to everyone who joined Dr. Jeff Jensen for his lecture on native kokanee salmon. Jeff shared insights from his ongoing research and helped us understand what these fish reveal about the health of our local ecosystems. We brough lots of salmon into the classroom for folks to explore. This lecture was recorded and will be on YouTube in the coming weeks for those who could not attend.<\/p>\n<\/div>

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Fall Open Houses<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

We were so glad to welcome faculty, students, and staff to explore the Environmental Education & Research Center this month. Thank you to everyone who came out to learn about how to teach classes at the EERC, support student internships, and connect research with the surrounding community.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Lecture: Brilliance of the Natural World<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Dr. Veronica Cassone McGowan led a thought-provoking evening lecture exploring the brilliance and agency of the more-than-human world. Her talk invited us to consider how multispecies intelligence can reshape our approaches to teaching, learning, and research. This talk was recorded and will be on YouTube in the coming weeks.<\/p>\n<\/div>

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Environmental and Adventure School Restoration Days<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

A huge thank-you to the students from the Environmental and Adventure School for joining us for three days of restoration work at Saint Edward State Park. Together, they removed large sections of invasive blackberry and made a major impact on the park\u2019s trails and natural areas.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Mushroom Outing with the Alyssa Burnett Center<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Another wonderful event with our partners from the Alyssa Burnett Center, who joined us for a guided mushroom walk through the forest. Participants searched for fungi of all kinds while learning about their ecological roles and explored their beauty! We also looked at Sulphur Tuft mushrooms which glow under UW light.<\/p>\n<\/div>

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Haunted Halls at the Lodge<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

We loved supporting our friends at The Lodge at Saint Edward State Park for their Haunted Halls event! CoSEE helped with pumpkin carving and joined the community in celebrating the fall season and getting into the Halloween spirit.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Internship Opportunities<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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AmeriCorps Environmental Education Position<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

We are seeking three AmeriCorps Members to support environmental education efforts at Saint Edward State Park and in the greater community. Members will serve approximately 300 hours over the academic year (through June 2026) and will receive an educational stipend through AmeriCorps upon completion.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Learn more & apply!<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
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Upcoming Events in November (& Beyond!)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Volunteer Work Party at Saint Edward State Park<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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November 19 | 10:00 \u2013 1:00 pm
EERC (14445 Juanita Dr NE Kenmore, WA 98028)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Join us for a day of stewardship and discovery at Saint Edward State Park! The park is home to rich flora, fauna, and history\u2014and with increased visitation, it needs our collective care more than ever. Volunteers will help remove invasive species such as English ivy and Himalayan blackberry to restore native habitat.

All ages 8 + welcome; no experience needed. Work happens rain or shine\u2014please dress for the weather.

Where to meet<\/strong>: Playground area. Volunteer parking will be on the south lawn just past the playground (see attached map). Take NE 145th toward the park, turn left after the ball field, and follow signs to the playground.

What to bring (required)<\/strong>:<\/p>\n\n\n\n