Councilmember Strauss proposes amendment to fully fund Seattle Parks’ environmental education program

Councilmember Dan Strauss proposed Amendment 6 to restore full levy funding for the Seattle Parks Department’s environmental education program, telling reporters the move would preserve a volunteer-run program that served thousands of students in 2024 and would cost the median homeowner about $2 a year.

The program, which Strauss called a 30-year legacy of volunteer-led outdoor education, provided hands-on field trips and guided walks in 2024 to 5,383 students from 65 schools, ran 38 public programs across 20 parks and delivered 188 community partnership events that served 1,693 participants, according to figures Strauss cited. He said about 100 volunteers collectively contributed more than 4,000 hours of unpaid time.

"For a relatively small investment, we can make a huge impact. Fully restoring the environmental education program would cost the median homeowner about $2 a year," Councilmember Dan Strauss said. He said the program reaches students from underserved and Title 1 schools and that without the levy the program’s funding would expire in 2025.

Strauss said the Every Child Ready initiative under consideration by the City Council would restore only about 38 percent of the program’s current funding. "That program in total would be reduced to less than 40 percent of its current operational capacity," Strauss said, adding that his amendment would add funds rather than cut other programs to make up the difference.

Volunteers and program leaders described recent school-day field trips and the program’s role in science education. "I'm Maggie Johnson, and I'm a Seattle urban nature guide," said Maggie Johnson, a volunteer who described leading an intertidal-zone field trip for students from BF Day Elementary. "These kids are having a full-body, hands-on nature immersion experience," she said, and added that teachers told volunteers the beach day was often the students’ favorite day of the year.

"Our work inspires children, sparks joy and wonder, supports budding scientists, teaches empathy and care for our green world and for one another," said Melanie Winnecke, another volunteer with more than a decade of experience leading students in parks across the city. Laurie Farmer, a retired science teacher and volunteer, said outdoor lessons often meet science standards in ways classroom time cannot.

Strauss acknowledged the amendment would not address all program needs, saying it would not provide office space and that some adult programming could be reduced if officials narrow the focus to youth. He said exact enrollment or capacity estimates under a 38 percent funding scenario would need to be provided later by staff.

No formal council vote on the amendment occurred at the press conference. Strauss said the final vote on his amendment and other changes to the Every Child Ready initiative is scheduled for Thursday at 9:30 a.m. in Council Chambers.