Support Springwood Staff

Greetings Island County residents and beyond. During the recent holiday break, our beloved Springwood Forest School received notice that their land use of the Four Springs Park has been revoked. The staff, parents and children have less than 7 weeks remaining to enjoy this beautiful community necessity. At this point, we ask you to respect the privacy of the Springwood staff while they pick up the pieces of their lost livelihood and we all grieve the loss of an instrumental childhood staple.

My name is Shawna, and I am a parent to two children fortunate enough to experience the wonder of outdoor education. When we first moved to Camano Island, our family felt very isolated and cut off from so many resources our family requires. When we discovered Springwood Forest School, we were thrilled to discover a nontraditional outdoor child care. The staff, other parents and children all welcomed us with open arms. They have been so supportive and nurturing over the years and we can’t imagine what effect their closure will have on our future. As we continue to process this tragedy, we look to you, our loving community for support and guidance on how to move forward together.

I represent but one of many families who will be affected by this loss emotionally, financially and logistically. Although we will all be facing our own challenges, fundraising for the staff feels like the least we can do as a community to express our gratitude and help them as they are unfairly forced to seek employment in the middle of the school year. Some may not qualify for unemployment and we need to care for them as they have so lovingly done for our children.

We are requesting the community help us raise $36,100 to cover lost wages for the employees for the coming weeks. After fees, the ~$35,000 would be distributed equally among the 7 employees for around $5,000 a person. We are aiming for this amount to be able to cover rent, utilities, food, and other basic needs for 1-2 months while our employees recoup and begin to look for work elsewhere. Of course, anything helps, and any funds raised will be distributed equally among staff. We know people want answers and we will continue to update this page with ways members of the community can help. Thank you for giving us the time, space, and support we need as we grieve the loss of our beloved Springwood Forest School.

Please continue reading below for information about why outdoor education is so crucial.

The Importance of an Outdoor Classroom:

Springwood has been fortunate to bring forest school to Four Springs. Students have fallen in love with its trees, fields, and creeks. They’ve named special places like Dreamland, the Little Forest, Mabel the Maple, and Coyote Corridor. They’ve frolicked in the tall grasses, swung in the cedars, and learned to name every plant and animal. Your children have lovingly cleaned up after wind storms, raked leaves from the trails, carefully relocated worms, and removed little patches of invasive species. We worked with The Nature Conversancy to plant native trees and bushes like bigleaf maple, Douglas fir, and oso berry. This fall students started a new, year-long project, of adopting and observing a tree of their individual choosing. Some selected mighty firs. Others chose mushroom covered stumps. The potential they recognize in the smallest spring is the very foundation of stewardship growing within them.

Springwood students connect deeply with these fifty acres. We are often the only patrons of this underutilized park, and I would argue our students know the trails and topography better than anyone of any age on this island. We have filled the preserve with the sounds of children’s play and laughter. Our songs and Earth Pledge echo through the air, carrying our promises of hope.

Finding a home for Springwood was the single most critical and cumbersome factor in our opening. Private land in this region is prohibitively expensive, and state parks require substantial fees. With any growing community, and especially nature-based education programs, the challenge of land use is persistent and fraught with competing needs. Navigating the complexities of public green space, its recreational and conservation goals, and its inherent accessibility is diplomatic work. Enacting change, even when the mission is practical and beneficial in nature, is neither simple nor expedient.

While Washington is the first state in the nation to license outdoor preschools, most municipalities, governed by city or county codes, don’t contain language or a structure that define or support outdoor schools. Creating a pathway for a licensed outdoor preschool program requires relentless research, innovation, and a good ol’ fashioned “roll your sleeves up” attitude toward doing something that’s never been done before.

It requires advocacy, education, and funding. It asks elected officials, policymakers, and those who enforce the law to be open to new ideas, while supporting and defending them. Springwood brought a compelling proposal to the county, and approval was granted. Our authorization was undergirded with county-approved funds, awarded from the American Rescue Plan Act to help launch the program.

May we raise children

who love the unloved

things–the dandelion, the

worms and spiderlings.

Children who sense

the rose needs the thorn

and run into rainswept days

the same way they

turn towards sun…

And when they’re grown &

someone has to speak for those

who have no voice

may they draw upon that

wilder bond, those days of

tending tender things

and be the ones. - by Nicolette Sowder

There is much work to be done to ensure Island County policies are updated to reflect the desire of the community to offer viable outdoor school options moving forward. If you would like more information regarding how you can help Future Advocacy for Camano Outdoor Education, please email through this portal and you’ll be given additional information as it becomes available. Thank you again for your empathy, support and kindness.