IslandWood is a non-profit outdoor learning center located on Bainbridge Island in Washington. It was founded in 2001 to provide environmental education for young people living in King and Kitsap Counties.
IslandWood's core program is called the School Overnight Program. Approximately 4000 fourth, fifth and sixth grade students attend the program each year. They are taught by residential graduate students taking part in the Graduate Residency in Education, Environment and Community (EEC), which is offered in partnership with the University of Washington.
IslandWood also offers the campus to other organizations to host conferences, meetings, retreats or celebrations (including weddings).
Conferences and weddings at IslandWood help to sustain the mission by providing funds for the School Overnight Program.
History
In 1997, over 1,000 acres (4 km2) of land were being sold on the south end of Bainbridge Island. Local residents Debbi and Paul Brainerd proposed the idea of building a children's outdoor education center; a subsequent feasibility study showed that half of Puget Sound area students did not receive overnight outdoor education programs. The Brainerds purchased 255 acres (1.03 km2) of land for the program, conducted two years of research and began building the center in the summer of 2000. Pilot programs were held in spring 2002.