AWSP Blog

At AWSP, we believe wholeheartedly in the importance of teachers, but also feel just as strongly in calling attention to one of the most under-recognized and overworked group of educators in the system, school principals. Effective principals are foundational and essential components of a successful educational system. Simply stated, principals matter.

While we welcome the thousands of students and staff who visit our facilities, it is the dream of all of us involved in Outdoor Environmental and Science Education to have a component in each school year. Here is an exemplary approach:

Dudley Edmondson, an African American wildlife photographer, believes it is critical for people of color to get involved in nature conservation. He sought out 20 other African Americans with deep connections to nature and asked them about their personal experiences, how they came to value nature and why African Americans seem under-represented in our parks and conservation efforts.

A thoughtful piece about accessing outdoors for all. James Edward Mills writes, "Gear catalogs, advertising campaigns, films, and articles in magazines like Outside typically presented the outdoors as a place for white people, most of them men. At the turn of the millennium, I decided to do something about this, pivoting from sales to journalism...."

Welcome to another episode of AWSP News, where we discuss our 2019 plans, upcoming workshops from Kids at Hope, our workshops in early January at ESD 123, the National Association of Elementary School Principals annual conference in Spokane this summer, key business partners like Capturing Kids Hearts and the Gates Foundation, the Governor's proposed budget, a possible innovation summit around the 24 credit graduation requirement, using student leaders to create a strong culture and foundation, and preview our partnership with world-renowned speaker Kevin Carroll.