Olympic Park Institute - donate to this non-profit

The mission of Olympic Park Institute is to inspire personal connections to the natural world and responsible actions to sustain it.

“I think the most valuable thing I learned was that everything we do will affect nature.”                  Student, Washington Middle School

Why you'll love it:

Serving over 40,000 participants annually, NatureBridge is the largest nonprofit residential environmental education partner of the National Park Service. Since 1971 we have introduced almost one million students to national parks through field science education programs for schools and youth leadership programs.

Olympic Park Institute, a campus of NatureBridge, is connecting youth to nature. Since 1987, our award-winning field science programs have inspired a personal connection to the natural world and responsible actions to sustain it.

Olympic Park Institute’s residential education center, located on Lake Crescent in Olympic National Park, annually serves more than 6,000 people from diverse backgrounds. In partnership with Olympic National Park, we provide residential environmental education programs for school groups in grades 4-12.

We are committed to providing all youth access to the outdoors. More than half of our participating schools receive scholarship assistance. We work closely with the Lower Elwha Klallam Tribe and other Klallam Tribes to meet the needs of tribal youth in the North Olympic Peninsula area.

Why we love it:

                  · increasing scientific literacy and comprehension of complex environmental issues

                  · preparing students for academic success and a life of environmental stewardship

                  · restoring active, experiential learning to 4-12 academics

                  · instilling an understanding of nature and fostering responsible environmental behavior

                  · improving communications skills and self-confidence