Wild Whatcom Receives State Grant; Governor Inslee to Present Award in Bellingham

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Local Non-Profit Receives State Grant; Governor Inslee to Present Award in Bellingham

BELLINGHAM, WA, April 23, 2016 - Wild Whatcom, a local outdoor education non-profit organization, has been awarded a $20,000 grant from the Washington State Recreation and Conservation Office to provide a linked series of outdoor learning opportunities to more than 200 area second graders. Washington Governor Jay Inslee will visit Bellingham on Monday, April 25 to launch the new No Child Left Inside grant program and make the award announcement. "It's an honor to receive this grant and to hear the news from the governor himself,” said Executive Director, Emily Highleyman. “We are thrilled that Gov. Inslee recognizes the vital need for kids to spend time in nature."

EdVentures, a partnership between Wild Whatcom and the Bellingham School District with support from the Whatcom Community Foundation, is scheduled to begin this fall and will include a series of four sequential field outings during the 2016-17 school year for second graders from the district’s six Title 1 elementary schools. Students will explore nature first-hand, enhanced by pre and post learning sessions at their schools.

Governor Inslee’s trip to Bellingham will include a visit to Northern Heights Elementary where he will explore and learn about nature with a group of kids participating in Wild Whatcom's after-school program, Neighborhood Nature.

Photo Opportunity

Monday, April 25, 2016

4:00PM

Northern Heights Elementary (school entrance)

4000 Magrath Road, Bellingham

For more information about the No Child Left Inside grant visit: www.rco.wa.gov/grants/ncli.shtml

About Wild Whatcom

Wild Whatcom is a non-profit, outdoor education organization located in Bellingham, Washington. Established in 2004, Wild Whatcom fosters lifelong connections to nature and community through outdoor exploration and service. The organization serves over 800 kids and adults in a variety of year-round nature programs. In 2013, Wild Whatcom was named one of the top five summer camp experiences for children by Outside Magazine. For more information, visit www.wildwhatcom.org. Connect with us: Facebook/wildwhatcom and Twitter/wildwhatcom.

Media Contact:

Laurel Peak, Program Manager

(203) 470-2710, laurel@wildwhatcom.org

Wild Whatcom

(360) 389-3414, info@wildwhatcom.org

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