Doug Rodgers and Camille Speck, shellfish biologists with the state Department of Fish and Wildlife, train Elsie McLane and Berit Schultz, both of Port Townsend High School, during the Youth Environmental Stewards Program’s Environmental Science and Leadership Class. (Jude Rubin/Northwest Watershed Institute)

Doug Rodgers and Camille Speck, shellfish biologists with the state Department of Fish and Wildlife, train Elsie McLane and Berit Schultz, both of Port Townsend High School, during the Youth Environmental Stewards Program’s Environmental Science and Leadership Class. (Jude Rubin/Northwest Watershed Institute)

Application deadline near for YES Program’s environmental science class in Jefferson

PORT TOWNSEND — The Youth Environmental Stewards (YES!) Program seeks applicants for its upcoming 2018-19 Environmental Science and Leadership Class.

Applications are due Thursday of this week. To apply, visit www.nwwatershed.org and click “Apply Now!” under “News & Updates.”

The class size is limited to 20 students. Students from Port Townsend, PT OCEAN, Quilcene and Chimacum Pi high schools are eligible to apply.

While the program is free, donations to help cover food costs are accepted.

The class is themed “How can we better understand, restore and protect our local ecosystems?” It is coordinated each year by Northwest Watershed Institute (NWI) — a Port Townsend-based cooperative project of nine partner organizations.

The class is completed throughout the academic year in accordance to each enrollee’s schedule by choosing and leading approved sponsored projects.

Projects include planting trees, removing nonnative invasive plants, installing rain gardens, and participating in coastal clean-ups.

During this time, enrollees must complete a minimum of 30 hours each as leaders and assistants on ecological service projects with a selected mentor.

“Jefferson County students can make important, lasting contributions … but first they need a chance to explore their home ecosystem, and learn about natural resource careers by working with experts,” Jude Rubin, NWI stewardship director, said in a news release.

To begin the course, students spend a week working outdoors with natural resource experts, learning what they do.

On July 15-20, students will participate in a six-day field course, bunking in dorms at Fort Flagler State Park, Rubin said.

Trips to Gibbs Lake, a tour of the Quilcene Taylor Shellfish Farm, and multiple sites in Tarboo-Dabob and Snow Creek watersheds; and Marrowstone Island are planned.

Mentors for the field course include representatives of NWI, the North Olympic Salmon Coalition, Port Townsend Marine Science Center, Jefferson Land Trust, county Department of Health, Washington State University Extension, Olympic National Park’s Matt Albright Native Plant Center and the state Department of Fish & Wildlife.

In addition to the program’s curriculum, students can pursue independent projects with professional mentors for an additional 0.5 credit, which can help fulfill elective, occupational credit, and-or senior project requirements.

These projects include serving as interpretive docents at salmon-bearing streams, marine aquarists, and outdoor educators.

In all, a student must complete a minimum of 90 hours of work on the project to receive the credit.

Students will be recognized for their participation in the YES! program during high school graduations.

The class is available free of charge by the support of area businesses and donors, according to the release.

A similar class at the North Cascades Institute costs $1,765, the release said.

This year’s class size is up — from last year’s 14 — to 20 by way of a small school bus Port Townsend High School is sponsoring, Rubin said.

Ongoing donations for the class are accepted.

For more information, contact Rubin at jude@nwwatershed.org or 360-774-1457.

More in News

Rear Admiral Charles E. Fosse, right, U.S. Coast Guard District 13 commander, was the guest speaker at the U.S. Coast Guard Station Port Angeles’ annual Veterans Day celebration on Monday. Chaplain Mike VanProyen, left, and Kelly Higgins, the commanding officer at Coast Guard Air Station Port Angeles, also participated in the ceremony. (Paula Hunt/Peninsula Daily News)
Hundreds gather in Port Angeles to honor service members

High school band, choral groups highlight event

Former Marine Joseph Schwann of Port Townsend smiles as he receives a Quilt of Valor from Kathy Darrow, right, and another member of Quilts of Valor during the Veterans Day event at the American Legion Marvin G. Shields Memorial Post 26 in Port Townsend on Monday. Group leader Kathey Bates, left, was the emcee of the event. (Steve Mullensky/for Peninsula Daily News)
Quilts of Valor

Former Marine Joseph Schwann of Port Townsend smiles as he receives a… Continue reading

Port Townsend ethics complaint dismissed

Officer examines argument on open meetings

Friends of the Library to host annual meeting

The Port Angeles Friends of the Library will conduct… Continue reading

Peninsula College to stage ‘The Thanksgiving Play’

Peninsula College will present its production of “The Thanksgiving… Continue reading

Ceramic sculpture “Flora-Fauna” by Thomas Connery.
Library to host reception for ‘Second Look’ exhibition

The North Olympic Library System will host a reception… Continue reading

Sequim City Council members finalized through their consent agenda to ban the sale of fireworks effective October 2025. They held a public hearing last month that garnered mostly support for the ban. (Matthew Nash/Olympic Peninsula News Group)
Sequim finalizes ban on fireworks

Ordinance change will go into effect next October

Matthew Nash/Olympic Peninsula News Group
Rich Krebsbach, manager of the Highland Irrigation District, asks questions of Rhiana Barkie, Clallam County public works project coordinator. The map is one of four new options for the Dungeness Off-Channel Reservoir project. Public input is being taken through the county’s website at https://www.clallamcountywa.gov/188/Dungeness-Off-Channel-Reservoir-Project.
Sequim reservoir project draws crowd, questions

Clallam County, FEMA public comment period open through Nov. 21

Christmas gift inspires playground cleanup

Veteran volunteer collects playground metal

Weekly flight operations scheduled

There will be field carrier landing practice operations for aircraft… Continue reading

World War II veteran Arthur Bradow, right, and his daughter Barbara Cason admire a quilt sewn by his niece for his 100th birthday on Dec. 13. Bradow served in the Merchant Marine in the Pacific Theater of Operations and stateside in the U.S. Army Air Forces. (Paula Hunt/Peninsula Daily News)
Veteran has 100 years’ worth of experience

Looks back at long life and wealth of knowledge

Veterans Day ceremonies set

Organizations across the Peninsula will conduct a variety of services in observance… Continue reading