The document outlines plans for a proposed Mount Rainier Institute, an overnight environmental education center located at Pack Forest near Mount Rainier National Park, that would provide immersive, multi-day programs focused on science, the outdoors, and environmental issues for middle and high school students, as well as adults and underrepresented groups. The goal is to help students develop an appreciation for nature, confidence in outdoor skills, leadership abilities, and knowledge about environmental topics in order to consider careers in natural sciences and connect to national parks. Implementation is targeted for Fall 2014 and would involve planning curriculum, pilot programs, fundraising, refinement, recruitment, evaluation, and developing partnerships and business strategies to ensure sustainability

1. Mount Rainier
Institute

3.  Overnight Environmental Education Center
• Multiple day experience
• Immersive
• Using Pack Forest & Mount Rainier National
 Middle & High School students (target audience)
• 4-6 grade
• Adults & Family
• College & Professional
• Underrepresented groups
 World Class Education Center
• Science focus (STEM)
• Natural History, outdoor recreation, natural resource management
• Interdisciplinary (social studies, arts, etc.)
• Connected ERLS (i.e. Standards based)

4.  Help students develop their relationship with the environment
through education
• Appreciation for nature
• Build confidence in being outdoors
• Build leadership skills
• Build knowledge
• Explore complex environmental issues
• Foster hope
 Build a foundation for students to consider natural sciences a
career path
• Particularly important for underrepresented groups
• Provide role models
 Connect students to National Parks
 Strengthen connections with higher education
• Partner with UW Tacoma teacher training program

9. “If you don’t know where you are,
you don’t know who you are.”
Wendell Berry

17. Why?
• Happier: Nature play increases
self-esteem, improves psychological
health and reduces stress. Children
learn self-discipline and are more
cooperative.
• Healthier: Nature play improves
physical conditioning and reduces
obesity.
• Smarter: Nature play stimulates
creativity and improves problem
solving. Children do better in school.

18.  Iconic National Park
 Education Education
Education
 Close the gap
 Generation “M”

19. “I like to play indoors
better
‘cause that’s where all the
electric outlets are.”
4th grader in San Diego
from Last Child in the Woods

20.  Pack Forest-
home base
 Mount Rainier
National Park

21.  Target Fall of 2014
• Planning
• Initial curriculum development
• Pilot programs/Fundraising
• Refinement
• Gear up & Recruitment
• Launch
• Evaluate & Refinement

22.  Identify key stakeholders & “champions”
• Potential partners
• Funders
 Gather a planning team
• Confirm mission & vision
• Develop a “programmatic framework”
 Implementation plan
 Develop business plan
• Sustainability
• Market analysis

23.  Market
• Compete vs. Complement
 Logistics
• Transportation
• Ideal teaching areas
 Defining Sustainability
 Branding
 Funding