Project Grant 02J25101

DESCRIPTION:THIS PROJECT PROVIDES FUNDING TO WASHINGTON STATE UNIVERSITY (WSU) TO IMPLEMENT NATURALIST PROGRAM, BUILDING A PIPELINE FOR WATER RESOURCE ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION, WHICH WILL DESIGN, DEMONSTRATE, AND DISSEMINATE ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION PRACTICES, METHODS, AND TECHNIQUES, THAT WILL SERVE TO INCREASE ENVIRONMENTAL LITERACY AND ENCOURAGE BEHAVIOR THAT WILL BENEFIT THE ENVIRONMENT IN THE STATE OF WASHINGTON. THE GRANTEE WILL DO THIS BY INCREASING THE REACH OF MANY ENVIRONMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS WITH MORE EDUCATED AND TRAINED VOLUNTEERS. CERTIFIED NATURALISTS WILL VOLUNTEER WITH THE PROJECT'S PARTNER ORGANIZATIONS TO INCREASE YOUTH ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION CAPACITY ON THE SCIENCE AND PRACTICES FOR CLEAN AND HEALTHY RESOURCES. ACTIVITIES:THIS PROJECT WILL INCREASE PUBLIC AWARENESS AND KNOWLEDGE ABOUT ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES IN THE STATE OF WASHINGTON AND PROVIDE STUDENTS, TEACHERS, AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS THE SKILLS NECESSARY TO MAKE INFORMED DECISIONS AND TO TAKE RESPONSIBLE ACTIONS. ACTIVITIES TO BE PERFORMED DURING THIS PROJECT PERIOD INCLUDE WSU WILL PILOT A NEW ONLINE WATER CENTERED NATURALIST PROGRAM WITH OVER 60 PARTICIPANTS AND DEVELOP A FIELD REQUIREMENT FOR PARTICIPANTS TO COMPLETE BEFORE GRADUATION. THE NATURALISTS WILL VOLUNTEER WITH FOUR PROJECT PARTNERS TO DO WATER RESOURCES EDUCATION WITH YOUTH. DURING THE PROJECT, WSU EXPECTS THEIR PARTNERS TO USE THE NATURALISTS TO REACH AN ADDITIONAL 2,000 YOUTH. FOUR OF THE PARTNERS ARE WORKING TO REACH UNDERSERVED YOUTH INCLUDING LOW INCOME, RURAL, LATINX, AND TRIBAL COMMUNITIES. THIS PILOT PROJECT WILL HELP IMPROVE AND IMPLEMENT THE NATURALIST PROGRAM STATEWIDE AND CREATE KNOWLEDGEABLE VOLUNTEERS IN VIRTUALLY EVERY PART OF WASHINGTON STATE. SUBRECIPIENT:FIVE SUBAWARDS WILL BE AWARDED TO HELP EXPAND THE NATURALIST PROGRAM WITH YOUTH EDUCATION BY THE SUBAWARDEE ORGANIZATIONS PROVIDING WATER RESOURCE EDUCATION.OUTCOMES:THE TWO OUTCOMES OF THE PILOT PROJECT ARE (1) INCREASING THE NUMBER AND KNOWLEDGE OF INDIVIDUALS INTERESTED IN VOLUNTEERING FOR ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION, STEWARDSHIP, AND MONITORING, ACHIEVED THOROUGH EDUCATION THAT OFFERS FLEXIBILITY, EQUITABILITY, AND SUPPORT RESULTING IN A UNIVERSITY-BACKED CERTIFICATE; AND (2) BUILDING AN ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION PIPELINE FROM VOLUNTEER NATURALISTS TO COMMUNITY YOUTH.