Pacific Northwest Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit (CESU)

Developing Implementation Plan and Curriculum for the Mount Rainier Institute at the Center for Sustainable Forestry at Pack Forest

Project ID: P12AC10608

Federal Agency: National Park Service

Partner Institution: University of Washington

Fiscal Year: 2012

Initial Funding: $30,000

Total Funding: $83,270

Project Type: Education

Project Disciplines: Biological

National Park: Mount Rainier National Park

Principal Investigator: Ettl, Greg

Agreement Technical Representative: Bacher, Kevin

Abstract: This collaborative project will lay the groundwork for a partnership between Mount Rainier National Park (MORA) and the University of Washington (UW) to plan and launch a residential environmental education program entitled “The Mount Rainier Institute.” The Institute will initially provide residential environmental education programs and services for school children during the school year but, over time, may grow to include year round programming for families and adult learners. In particular, the Institute will emphasize programming and services designed to address two key societal issues: 1) engaging diverse youth in outdoor and environmental education potentially leading to higher education and career pathways in related fields; and 2) increasing youth competency in math and science, particularly among traditionally underrepresented students. The Institute will be located at the University of Washington’s Center for Sustainable Forestry at Pack Forest. This facility is just 30 minutes from Mount Rainier National Park (MORA). Students will benefit not only from the opportunity to study forest ecology and management at Pack Forest—a research and demonstration forest showcasing various best practices in forest management—but also from the opportunity to make multiple visits to MORA and other regional destinations to learn about geology, ecology, Northwest heritage, and sustainability in magnificent outdoor classrooms. The UW and National Park Service (NPS) will work together to develop of an implementation plan for the Institute. The plan will consist of the following components including, but not limited to, the: 1) Institute mission, purpose and goals; 2) partner roles and responsibilities; 3) curriculum development; 4) staffing and human resources; 5) outreach; and 6) identifying potential audiences. Following development of this plan, work will proceed on other activities for the Institute including developing curriculum, completing outreach materials, hiring instructors, and logistical preparations. NPS will be substantially involved all of these aspects. MORA staff will work closely with the UW in the development of the curriculum that will be used at the Mount Rainier Institute. The Park’s team will include the Chief of Interpretation and Education, the Education Program Manager, the Park’s Education Specialists, along with park subject matter experts in the natural, physical and social sciences. They will work with University of Washington personnel to establish a clear philosophy for the Mount Rainier Institute’s curriculum and help create a basic framework that will direct the program. Program goals, objectives and outcomes will be defined as will the methods for assessment during this planning process. Because the MORA team has past experience working with teachers, school districts, and other educational institutions in the area, they will assist with the research and development of the topics and types of programs that will be presented in order to meet the needs of the students participating. Potential topics for curriculum development include: Climate Change, Physical Processes, Forest and Mountain Ecology, and Watershed Resources. The result will be full implementation of a world-class environmental education program beginning in the fall of 2014.

Deliverables: