Bainbridge Island outdoor learning center seeks to raise $8 million

When IslandWood School began eight years ago, its founders hoped to create generations of environmental stewards. Those hopes are being realized with each class of fourth- or fifth-graders who complete the four-day stay at the nonprofit educational center, say educators.

Now, with dozens of schools on the waiting list to send students to the outdoor learning center on Bainbridge Island, officials at IslandWood are in the midst of an $8 million fundraising campaign. If successful, the school will be able to bring in an additional 1,000 children each year and build a fourth sleeping lodge, an 80-seat classroom and housing for graduate students who live and teach at the school. So far, $6 million has been raised for the expansion, primarily from local companies and private donors.

"We're really proud of where we are," said Ben Klasky, IslandWood executive director. "The expansion will let us serve more kids."

Each year, about 3,000 students visit IslandWood. Most are from inner-city schools or schools with a high percentage of low-income children.

While giving children an appreciation for conservation and a concern about the environment is at the forefront, the program translates into other benefits -- improvements in math, art, science and reading, say Seattle School District administrators.

"I believe two types of learning take place at IslandWood: social and academic," said Norma Zavala, principal at Bailey Gatzert Elementary School in Seattle

The school's curriculum is serving as a model for environmental programs in other countries, Klasky said. Visitors have included the Chinese Society for Environmental Education and science teachers from Jordan. "Across the country there are hundreds of camps and environmental centers, but nothing quite like this. This was intentionally built with kids' ideas," Klasky said.

The school was the idea of Debbi Brainerd, a former special-events manager for Nordstrom, who, in 1998 with her husband, Paul, bought the 255-acre site, which had been the Port Blakely Tree Farm, and donated it to the nonprofit that eventually would become the school. In addition, she studied other environmental programs around the country and raised funds.

The late "Patsy" Bullitt Collins donated more than $1 million to IslandWood and was a founding board member.

In 1990, teaching environmental education became mandatory for public schools, but no funding was provided for teacher training, student programs or facilities. At the time, a study showed that roughly half of the children from Seattle's economically disadvantaged communities had never participated in a residential outdoor-education program -- or spent time outside the city.

Then in 1998, a Pew Charitable Trust study showed that children did better in school when they were taken outside the classroom for hands-on projects, rather than reading or sitting through lectures. The study became the guide for IslandWood's program.

The students are divided into teams of eight, each led by a naturalist and a teacher. They eat together in the main lodge and attend classes outdoors on hikes to the pond, where lessons in ecological balance are demonstrated on a raft. They plant vegetable seeds, chart the sounds of birds and watch microorganisms in pond water.

Trails meander through the IslandWood site, which is dotted with rustic sleeping lodges, a great hall for gatherings, an environmental center and classrooms for studying microorganisms.

The concept of the school "is basically the same setup as the one-room schoolhouse," said Klasky, the executive director. There are classrooms but lots of outdoor time. Students "come out here, they're moving, they're engaged. Some of the toughest kids end up being the leaders."

"Students who never saw themselves as the smart ones in the class come out here, and they get it," Education Director Pat O'Rourke said. "There are different ways of learning."

It costs $228 per student to attend, but because schools and families are often unable to pay, IslandWood provides scholarships to the schools.

Teacher Nancy Harris, who accompanied her class from Armin Jahr Elementary in Bremerton one day recently, walked behind the galloping pack with student Araminta Martin, who wrapped her arms around the teacher's waist. There's a benefit to the program just in the closeness that comes from eating, sleeping and doing things together and seeing your teacher in jeans, said Klasky.

As the class scampered leaf-strewn trails, IslandWood naturalist Ray Cramer suddenly stopped and pointed.

"I see it! I see it! Now I see it! Sweet!" Jordan said as the bald eagle soared above the trees.

The students used a handheld computer that allowed them to look up birds by photo, name or sound.

By typing in the sound chip-chip-chip they identified a young osprey.

Decisions on what they'd do as a group were made democratically -- one vote to go see the workings of the composting toilet, also known as "the chocolate factory," a few for the beach and the nearby Port Blakely Cemetery.

At the end of the day, the forest walks and microscope discoveries are over. So are the games of tag and jumping on beds. Darkness closes in. Owls hoot and stars shine, undiluted by city light.

"My friend saw something that weighed 25 pounds. It was a coyote, and it was super, super scary," said Joseph Fry, 9.

Quiet eventually comes to IslandWood. But near each bunk is a small window, and even at night the lessons of the natural world unfold as foxes, deer and sometimes a coyote appear.

Nancy Bartley: 206-464-8522, nbartley@seattletimes.com