Mission

Creating transformative nature experiences through community science, research, and education for the benefit of our island home and the entire Salish Sea.

Commitment to Equity

“Just as genetic diversity fuels biological evolution and resilience, cultural diversity fuels cultural evolution and human resilience.” 

— Robin Wall Kimmerer, author and scientist. From her talk during the River Restoration Northwest workshop on biocultural restoration

At Vashon Nature Center, our work is deeply enriched by the wisdom and perspectives of people of different cultures and races. We connect with nature and with other people by listening, learning, and interacting with reverence.

Through our core work in community science, research, and environmental education, we seek to connect with nature and heal our relationship with the natural world. Similarly, we seek to connect with all people, including Black, Indigenous, and other People of Color. We strive to understand and heal the cultural separation caused by oppression and colonization. And we celebrate the nature traditions, knowledge, and care of people of diverse cultures. Together we draw on a variety of strengths, cultural perspectives, and skills to build both a healthier humanity and a thriving natural world (because one cannot exist without the other).

As staff and board of this organization, we commit to furthering equity in all areas of our work and organizational structure. We commit to fighting systemic racism in our spheres of work and influence—environmental education and science. We commit to continuing our own learning. We revisit this statement on a regular basis to deepen our commitment and find new ways to act.

We humbly present this intention to reflect our current and evolving understanding.  6/22/2021

Where we work

Our programs are rooted on Vashon-Maury Islands and extend to benefit the Salish Sea ecosystem where we live. Vashon-Maury Islands are 2 of 419  islands located in the Salish Sea—a rich, international inland waterway covering more than 6,500 square miles. The people (we are 8 million strong and growing!) flora, and fauna (thousands of species) who make this place their home are facing many environmental challenges. We work to increase the natural history knowledge of our land, air, and waters to encourage a culture that strives to keep the Salish Sea clean, healthy, and thriving for future generations.

How we accomplish our mission

Community science: We invite people of all ages and abilities to join more than 20 different ongoing research projects on our beaches and in our streams, forests, wetlands, and meadows. We believe that science is not just the realm of experts, but rather a conduit for learning and life enrichment open to all. Our community scientists (from ages 6 to 96!) develop expertise, contribute data, and make connections while building greater awareness and appreciation for wildlife and natural places. Volunteers work directly with our network of expert scientists and naturalists to gather vital data that we couldn’t collect alone. These projects form the core of our work at Vashon Nature Center involving more than 700 volunteers who contribute 3,000 hours each year!

Education: We foster human connections with nature through a variety of community events, naturalist workshops, speakers, publications, joint art-science projects, and exhibits. In addition to programs for the general public, we incorporate our community science projects into school curricula and teacher trainings so that STEM learning is tied not only to national standards but is also immersed in the local environment. Our students learn critical-thinking skills through hands-on participation in real-life issues as they become more aware of and connected to their home environment.

Salish Sea Research: Our projects contribute much-needed scientific information to the wider Salish Sea scientific community through many partnerships and joint programs. Our data on sea star wasting disease is incorporated into the Pacific Intertidal Monitoring Network, our Wildlife Camera photos are used to inform research in the Grit City Carnivore Network of Puget Sound, our forage fish data is used to manage beaches in Maury Island State Aquatic Reserve, salmon DNA studies contribute to building an international database on Salish Sea Salmon biodiversity, and our annual BioBlitz species surveys are helping to grow the Salish Sea Biodiversity Project—a catalog of more than 68,000 records of biodiversity in the entire Salish Sea.

Vashon Nature Center Strategic Plan

Vashon Nature Center Strategy Screen for Decision-making

Visit our Projects page to learn more!

Header Photo: Kathryn True