Summer Institute for Teachers 2026
Tides of Change: Learning About Puget Sound Recovery
June 22, 23, 24 2026
Day 1
Opening: Hanford McCloud, Tribal Cultural Educator and Government Liaison
Keynote: Jodie Toft, Executive Director of Puget Sound Restoration Fund
Puget Sound Food Web Group Activity: Julia Fregonara, Nisqually River Education Project
Afternoon Break Out Sessions
- Uniquely Utqiagvik! Education on the Frozen Tundra: Kiersten Woodward | Northshore School District
- Update on Deschutes Estuary Restoration: Phoebe Cross and Ivy Major | Deschutes Estuary Restoration Team
- Plankton Batik: Michelle Stevie | Biologist
- Build a Cup of Stormwater Soup! Emily McCartan | Thurston County
- Secrets of the Lamprey: Stephanie Bishop | Thurston Conservation
Speaker: Janine Gates, Author – Saving the Nisqually Delta
Day 2- Field Trip to Boston Harbor Marina and Meyer’s Point Environmental Field Station
Boston Harbor Rotations:
- Water Quality and Plankton | Aimee Christy and Mary Elizabeth Bissell, Pacific Shellfish Institute
- Pier Biodiversity: Gray McKenna and Paula Craft | Freediver & Naturalist
- Dock Fouling and Sea Slugs: Luan Roberts | Nudibranch Naturalist
Meyer’s Point Rotations:
- Oyster Dissection & Nisqually Shellfish Farm Overview: Margaret Homerding | Nisqually Indian Tribe
- Archeology Exploration: Ali Johnson | Nisqually Indian Tribe
- Student Forestry Field Methods: Chelsea Harris | WA Department of Natural Resources
- Make a Salad in the Saltmarsh! Stephanie Bishop | Thurston Conservation District
Day 3
Group Activity: Your Best Outdoor Learning Experience | Sheila Wilson | Teacher, North Thurston Public Schools
Breakout Sessions
- Solar Printing with the Nisqually Reach Nature Center: Anna Marchand | Nisqually Reach Nature Center
- Take Action Through Civic Engagement: Tom Crawford | Thurston Climate Action Team
- Environmental Journalism Activity: Janine Gates | Author: Saving the Nisqually Delta
- Killer Whale Watch: Rachel Stendahl | Chehalis Basin Education Consortium
Speaker: Julia Pinnix | Visitor Services Manager, Nisqually National Wildlife Refuge Complex
Trail Exploration and Restoration