The Estuary Partnership offers service learning projects to schools and other educational groups. Each project fulfills state and district requirements but the project designs are also flexible enough that they can be personalized to fit each teacher’s particular curriculum requirements. Whenever possible, sites are chosen to minimize transportation costs, give students an “ownership stake” in a nearby natural area, and facilitate teacher’s ability to use the site in future curriculum and service projects.

Service learning projects offered by the Estuary Partnership include:

• Habitat Enhancement and Restoration
• Schoolyard Stormwater Management
• Schoolyard Habitat Improvement

See Volunteer Opportunities to learn about upcoming service learning projects.

In addition to the field component, Estuary Partnership service learning projects also include a series of pre trip classroom lessons related to the project. Service learning projects involve a series of classroom lessons that teach students educational concepts related to the service project.

Estuary Partnership service learning projects sites for the 2008-2009 school year include: :

• Lacamas Creek in Camas, WA
• Mary S. Young State Park, Lake Oswego, OR
• Oxbow Metro Regional Park, near Gresham, OR
• Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge, Ridgefield, WA
• Steigerwald National Wildlife Refuge, near Washougal, WA
• Tryon Creek State Park, between Portland, OR and Lake Oswego, OR
• Other service learning sites may be available depending on school location or interest

See Volunteer Opportunities to learn about our 2009 Saturday habitat restoration projects.