Seed to STEM: Outdoor STEM Career Exploration Program at Nooksack Valley School District
By the time they reach high school, students at Nooksack Valley School District will be on a pathway toward a variety of enriching outdoor STEM careers.
Situated in the agricultural valley of Whatcom County on the ancestral homelands of the Nooksack Indian Tribe, the district recognizes the value of outdoor STEM experiences in fostering connections to STEM jobs that are relevant to students. They want to make a bigger impact than a career fair or guest speaker could accomplish. With the support of a Career Connect Washington Program Builder grant and collaboration from teachers, parents, students, and numerous community-based partners, the district is taking a systemic approach with a broad scope. In the 2024-2025 school year, if full funding is secured, Seed to STEM will offer a unique, scaffolded series of outdoor STEM experiences for all K-8th grade students every single year.
The district has already been modeling a successful outdoor learning pathway program at the middle school, where every student follows a scientific journey down the Nooksack Watershed through a series of field trips. By expanding the middle school program to incorporate additional career exploration opportunities at the elementary level, the career connected learning continuum is scaled to begin even earlier for students. The three elementary schools in the district are creating a comprehensive program of transformative outdoor experiences from day one, where careers are illuminated by their teachers, outdoor educators, and scientists in a variety of STEM fields (e.g. agriculture, natural resources, environmental restoration, environmental science, and place-based education) and traditionally non-STEM fields like cooking and public service. One elementary student interviewed in the program design phase shared: “Being in nature makes me feel like I am really doing something. I feel confident and curious.” Seed to STEM aspires to foster students' feelings of connection and agency in the outdoors to show them pathways to fulfilling careers.
In order to successfully serve all students, Seed to STEM is specifically designed to center historically underserved students, providing equitable support to benefit student populations experiencing the largest opportunity gaps. The program is overseen by a joint leadership team with the values and expertise to effectively serve Native and Latine students, and students with developmental disabilities. Key partners include the Nooksack Indian Tribe Education Department, Vamos Outdoors Project, the Wild Whatcom Student Environmental Education and Discovery (SEED) Program, and the Whatcom Coalition for Environmental Education (WCEE). In addition, six community-based outdoor learning providers are currently serving the middle school, and seven providers were selected to serve the elementary schools through a robust review process overseen by the joint leadership team to ensure program alignment with Seed to STEM goals. Career Connect NW, the CCW regional network in the NW region, has supported the project through grant assistance and career connected learning professional development and materials.
By prioritizing students’ passions and cultural values, Seed to STEM is poised to launch a nine-year journey helping students discover diverse and sustainable career paths, early and often, and to gain the skills and confidence to pursue them. We look forward to sharing the story as it unfolds next year!
