Seattle City Councilmember Dan Strauss (District 6) joined advocates at Me-Kwa-Mooks Park today to advocate for fully funding the Seattle’s renowned environmental learning program. 

Thousands of kids could lose access to the program next year due to budget cuts. Councilmember Strauss has proposed an amendment that would preserve full funding for the program through the Every Child Ready Initiative. 

“A recent poll found that Seattleites say our access to the outdoors is one of the best parts about living in our city. It’s part of what sets Seattle apart. For a relatively small investment, we can save our city’s renowned environmental education program and ensure it is around to serve our kids and families for years to come. Building strong connections between our kids and their natural environment is priceless. Our kids are worth it,” said Councilmember Strauss. 

Background 

For decades, the Seattle Parks’ Environmental Education and Outdoor Learning program has provided kids and families an opportunity to visit Seattle’s parks, forests, and beaches to learn about nature. In 2024 alone, the program and it’s 93 volunteers were able to serve 5,385 students from 65 different schools as part of the field trip program. Many of those were under-resourced Title 1 schools. Thousands more kids and families were served through nature activations, guided walks, and community partnership programs. 

Due to the city’s budget deficit, the program is scheduled to run out of funding next year. The current version of the Every Child Ready Initiative would only restore 38 percent of the funding for the Environmental Learning Program. The other 62 percent, including funding for the paid volunteer coordinator, would be cut. 

To improve that, Councilmember Strauss is proposing an amendment that would fully fund the environmental learning program for kids and families. This will ensure that the program continues to serve Seattle’s kids at its historic levels.  

Additional Quotes 

“As a former stay-at-home dad, our family has benefited from the Environmental Education and Outdoor Learning Programs. I know how important these programs are to kids and families all over the City, and it’s a good way to get our kids out into nature, to understand how beautiful and fragile the ecosystem around us is, and why it’s important to protect it. I’m glad to be working with Councilmember Strauss to find a solution to ensure this environmental education moves forward.”  
–Councilmember Bob Kettle (District 7) 

“Our work inspires children, sparks joy and wonder, supports budding scientists, teaches empathy and care for our green world and each other. I am so grateful to Councilmember Dan Strauss for his support of our city’s wonderful environment education programs. His amendment saves the amazing naturalists and their administrative and management support staff, preserving these programs for our city’s children, and maintaining the history and institutional knowledge built up over the thirty years that this program has served our city.” 
–Melanie Wienecke, volunteer Urban Nature Guide 

What’s next 

The vote on Councilmember Strauss’ amendment is scheduled for Thursday, June 12 at the 9:30 a.m. meeting of the Select Committee on the Families, Education, Preschool and Promise Levy. 

If the amendment is approved by Council, the funding would be included as part of the Every Child Ready Initiative, which will go to voters on the November ballot. 

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