Life on the Edge of New Ideas

At the edge of our continent in Grays Harbor County, natural and cultural resources are plentiful but our students are highly disconnected from our shared heritage: in one class of Aberdeen high school sophomores, 50% had never before visited the beach (a 40 minute drive); in another class of Montesano 8th graders, 85% felt uncomfortable going outdoors (their school is within 5 minutes of a state park). 

If we can reconnect students to our shared outdoors, then we can help tackle the broader challenges in Grays Harbor, among the most deprived counties in Washington State:

• Grades 1 - 12
  • 91% of students qualify for Title 1 benefits
  • Of 13 Grays Harbor school districts, an average of 70% of graduating high school students need remedial math and science instruction
  • NEED: State learning standards, as they are currently and as they will be updated this year, prioritize place-based and project-based learning. To meet state standards, there is a need to assist teachers inside and outside the classroom.
  • CIC: We have a three step model to assist students: We start in-school, then bring students into the field, then bring them on a visit to our museum. These programs focus on Grays Harbor biology, geology, ecology, and anthropology highlights. In 2025, we are debuting a teacher training program with federal, tribal, state, and local partners to ensure that CIC programs are widely utilized. We are actively fundraising to include more teachers and schools in our education model.
• College
  • Many students who attend college in the Puget Sound region or beyond do not return, leading to regional brain drain
  • Coupled with brain drain, there is a lack of diplomaed local candidates to fill state and tribal natural resources positions
  • NEED: There is a need to build science and outdoors career stepping stones that encourage local students to remain in Grays Harbor to improve our natural resources.
    
  • CIC: We are debuting our first college internship in Summer 2025, focused on water quality and habitat monitoring. We are actively fundraising for additional internships that pair local college students with federal, tribal, state and local experts (who are also potential employers).

Local resources cannot meet local needs. The CIC works hard to meet our program demands across Grays Harbor, but we are appealing to donors across Washington State to help us sustain our education program in 2025 and into 2026. We are fundraising specifically for the CIC educator position.