Sustaining King County’s public health, natural beauty and economy depends on local residents appreciating their connection to the environment. Children from rural and urban areas alike need to experience natural places and understand their importance, as do the region’s many newcomers. Consumers should know how their choices affect the environment and vice versa. Parks programs, conservation efforts and environmentalist groups must reach beyond outdoor enthusiasts and other traditional constituencies, to families, seniors, businesses, neighborhoods and people of color. Education and engagement policies that are shown to be effective should be replicated, while others will require further refinement.
- Connect young people and newcomers with the regional ecosystem and help them understand the importance of protecting natural resources.
- Inform consumers about how the products and services they choose affect the environment.
- Involve community members in environmental research and monitoring.
- Ensure wilderness and parks projects benefit a broad range of people–including families, the disabled, people of color and other groups.
- Support volunteer habitat restoration projects.
- Build grassroots environmental constituencies.
- Audubon Washington and Seattle Parks and Recreation are developing an environmental center in Seattle's Seward Park. The center will include classrooms, a laboratory, a nature library and exhibits, and host a variety of programs for children, adults and seniors.
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Woodland Park Zoo's naturalistic exhibits act as living classrooms, educating the public about conserving both animal species and their environments.
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The Environmental Science Center in southwest King County brings environmental stewardship programs to scouts, neighborhood children and seniors at a local low-income apartment complex
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