Submitted by Port Blakely Companies
Port Blakely Companies, a family-owned forestry and forest products company, today announced its support of an environmental education program to serve over 100 of Seattle’s underserved and under-represented youth in honor of its 150th Anniversary and legacy of stewardship.
NatureBridge, a non-profit organization that provides hands-on environmental science programs for students, is a national leader in environmental education. NatureBridge will lead approximately 130 underserved Seattle students through its programs in spring 2015 at Olympic National Park. Students will visit and study the Elwha River Restoration, one of the largest watershed restoration projects in US history. They will also learn about watershed science on the Olympic Peninsula as they study the structure and function of aquatic ecosystems and the role of water in terrestrial systems.
“As a company committed to creating a healthier world, we believe all students should have the opportunity to learn about nature through science, and through NatureBridge students will gain a better understanding of the importance of natural resources and the environment,” said René Ancinas, CEO of Port Blakely Companies.
“The environmental challenges in our future will be increasingly complex. With this, we’re thrilled that Port Blakely Companies is helping to build a generation of environmentally literate citizens armed with the tools and know-how to make a difference,” noted Stephen Streufert, Pacific Northwest Director of NatureBridge.
The program will continue for the next five years. Each year NatureBridge will select local schools to participate. Port Blakely is known for environmental education, as it has taught nearly 60,000 students from throughout the region about managed forests and responsible land stewardship since 1991.
