Outdoor classroom
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Nestled in a 50-acre nature preserve on Camano Island, our program offers children a peaceful place to learn, play, and connect with nature. Four Springs Lake Preserve is home to several streams, a small lake, wooded trails, and open meadows lined with Douglas fir, western red cedar, and bigleaf maple trees.
Native ferns and huckleberries decorate the landscape, while wetland, woodland, and riparian habitats host diverse plants, animals, and fungi that guide our seasonal curriculum. We instill a respect for the land and its history, and commit to a presence of minimal impact.
base camp
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Our leave no trace program is a community of young stewards who tread lightly on the land. With consideration for the nature preserve and recreation goals of Island County Parks, our base camp may shift with the seasons, from a grassy picnic area to an orchard.
What does not change are the comforting rituals and outdoor classroom features, including a warm water hand-washing station, grey water collection, and pop-up privacy tent for toileting. During heavy precipitation, a temporary tarp and tree shelters offer areas to rest, draw, and tell stories.
civic engagement
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Students learn ways to embrace their surroundings, including regular hikes to the creek, story time in the forest, and practicing yoga in the sprawling meadow.
We also participate in stewardship activities including native species identification, trail maintenance, and educational field trips. Staff, volunteers, and community partners will teach children about ecosystems while benefiting from the environmental changes within a living, breathing outdoor classroom.
