A diverse class of children look through microscopes on a table set up outside in a forest

The refuge's environmental education program is a collaboration with local schools, the community, and other educational groups to engage students in nature and develop an appreciation for conservation.

Refuge staff delivers classroom lessons for third and fourth grade students located within Grays Harbor County. Students engage in experiential lessons on shorebirds and ecology of the refuge, focusing on topics such as migration, adaptations, habitat types, and conservation. The Shorebird Education Program includes six in-classroom lessons throughout the school year and culminates in a field trip to the refuge during the spring migration (April-May).

Applications are sent to interested teachers in September. There is no charge for this program, which includes bus transportation to the refuge (thanks to the Friends of Nisqually National Refuge Complex). Teachers working at schools located in Grays Harbor County can contact the Complex Headquarters at Billy Frank Jr. Nisqually Refuge for more information.

We also offer one-time shorebird drawing lessons in preparation for the Grays Harbor Shorebird and Nature Festival Poster Contest These hour-long lessons blend art and biology and highlight the importance of scientific observation through art. The lessons are open to any classroom grades 1 through 6 in Grays Harbor County.

Our former Grays Harbor NWR Education Coordinator, Julia Fregonara, put together a virtual tour of the refuge for Shorebird Education Program students. You can enjoy it, too!