345-acre Land Conservation Effort at Waskowitz Outdoor Education Center Helps Protect One of Nation’s Longest Running Outdoor Education Programs
Highline Public Schools, Trust for Public Land, and King County are protecting 345 forested acres surrounding an original 1930s Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) camp, so that students from Highline and other parts of Washington can continue to engage in science and environmental education as they have since 1947. Placing a conservation easement on Waskowitz’s forested land will provide over $7M of funding to maintain the camp, fund scholarships, and expand public access to scenic trails. Highline students live in Burien, Des Moines, Normandy Park, SeaTac, and White Center, and for some of them, the learning that takes place in these forests is an entirely new and life-changing experience.
“Access to the outdoors can have a profound impact on young people’s health and their understanding of the world around them,” said Trust for Public Land’s Northwest Director Mitsu Iwasaki. “Ensuring preservation of Waskowitz as an outdoor education center will enrich the lives of current and future generations.”
Over 300 forested acres and several miles of trails will now be open for the public to enjoy, as Highline Public Schools has agreed to allow recreation on these lands when the school programs are not in session. Community members can hike trails constructed by Waskowitz Outdoor Education Center, explore the Mountains to Sound Greenway National Heritage Area, and connect to the Snoqualmie Valley Trail. The conservation easement also ensures that Waskowitz’s vast forest lands remain healthy and an asset to combat climate change, capturing and storing carbon to benefit future generations.
“We’re proud to secure Waskowitz as green space for future generations,” said Highline Superintendent Ivan Duran. “Highline has a decades-long tradition of outdoor education. This will ensure that all Highline students have the opportunity to participate in outdoor education as part of their learning experience, now and in the future.”
Nestled in the foothills of the Cascades, Waskowitz has a long history of connecting young people in Washington to nature and sparking life-long interests in the environment. Its outdoor education curriculum is seen as a model statewide. Originally constructed as “Camp North Bend”, a Civilian Conservation Corp facility during the Great Depression, the camp hosts around 3,000 students per year, for four- to five-day sessions. Notable alumni of their environmental education programs include former U.S. Secretary of the Interior Sally Jewell, Governor Jay Inslee, Superintendent of Public Instruction Chris Reykdal, and State Senator Mark Mullet.
“Attending Camp Waskowitz over 50 years ago as a child in the Renton Public Schools was a memorable experience for me and my classmates. I’m delighted the camp and surrounding trails will continue to welcome children and families across our region, providing treasured memories and an introduction to nature close to home. With this investment, new generations will have an opportunity to appreciate the work of the CCC and become outdoor stewards and enthusiasts themselves, enjoying the remarkable natural landscapes of the Mountains to Sound Greenway,” said former U.S. Secretary of the Interior Sally Jewell.
“I still remember going to Camp Waskowitz as a fifth grader in Tukwila and am so glad that this conservation easement will protect the camp so future generations can attend as well,” said State Senator Mark Mullet.
Funding for the project came from several sources; most notably, $7.33M to fund the acquisition came from the King County Conservation Futures Tax and Parks Levy. Trust for Public Land, Highline Public Schools, the Mountains to Sound Greenway Trust, and generous philanthropic donors that gave to the Jim Ellis Fund for Land Conservation, funded the project work.
“By protecting the forested acres of Camp Waskowitz, students and residents alike will have access to invaluable outdoor experiences,” said Warren Jimenez, King County Parks Director. “Thanks to voters approving the Parks levy and Conservation Futures Tax levy, we can preserve this significant piece of our natural heritage, ensure continued outstanding environmental education, and open up beautiful trails for everyone to enjoy.”
About Trust for Public Land
Trust for Public Land (TPL) is a national nonprofit that works to connect everyone to the benefits and joys of the outdoors. As a leader in equitable access to the outdoors, TPL works with communities to create parks and protect public land where they are needed most. Since 1972, TPL has protected more than 4 million acres of public land, created more than 5,420 parks, trails, schoolyards, and iconic outdoor places, raised $94 billion in public funding for parks and public lands, and connected nearly 9.7 million people to the outdoors. To learn more, visit tpl.org.
About Highline Public Schools
Highline Public Schools serves 17,000 students grades K-12 in the communities of Burien, Des Moines, Normandy Park, SeaTac and White Center in Washington State. The district has 34 schools, employs more than 2,000 staff members, and offers a wide variety of educational opportunities from early childhood to college preparation. We are committed to equity in education, high expectations for all and partnering with families and the community to ensure that all children achieve their potential.