Our Mission:

We inspire students to take responsibility for their environment and natural resources. We teach students to practice watershed healthy habits, engage the participation of their families and communities, and become engaged in scientific study. Today's children are the leaders of tomorrow. 

Our Philosophy:

All students should have a big-picture concept of stewardship over the environment through personal connection, hands-on science and field experience.

Our Strategies:

Provide resources to train and assist educators to implement Garden of the Salish Sea Curriculum.

Partner with community organizations that model environmental stewardship and career paths.

““Being part of a local data collection project made this experience so authentic for the students. It fit in beautifully with our unit on water and our unit about natural places.”

— Wade King Elementary School”
““Both educators were willing to work with me and the curricular demands to support them and enrich my students by informing and empowering my students so that they felt like their actions matter.”

— Beach Elementary School”
““My students enjoyed this experience, and they can see directly the importance of clean water in our community!”

— Blaine Elementary School”

Julie Hirsch - Founder & Director

Julie is an environmental scientist with more than 20 years water quality experience in northwest Washington. She earned a Bachelor's degree in Biology at Western Washington University and a Master's degree in Microbiology at Northern Arizona University. Julie managed water quality and education programs for the City of Bellingham before starting Hirsch Consulting Services, LLC. Since 1999, her efforts have focused on shellfish growing area recovery. Julie has partnered with the Puget Sound Restoration Fund 2001. In 2012, she began Garden of the Salish Sea Curriculum with grant funding from the Whatcom Community Foundation and the Alcoa Foundation. Julie sees shellfish studies as a means for empowering students to become leaders in environmental stewardship. Julie lives in Whatcom County, Washington with her family.

Where We Work

We work in K-12 schools around Whatcom County, WA. If you are interested in our program materials or inviting us into your school, please Contact Us.

We also have a wonderful partnership with Drayton Harbor Oyster Company, in Blaine, WA, who donates oysters and shells for our school programs.

Map of the Salish Sea by Stephan Freelan 2009.

Map: Stephan Freelan 2009.

The Salish Sea

The Salish Sea is the trans-national watershed and marine ecosystem that includes the Strait of Georgia, British Columbia’s Gulf Islands, the Strait of Juan de Fuca, Puget Sound, and the San Juan Islands. The Salish Sea hosts a rich intertidal ecosystem that provides an important source of food for wildlife and humans. Shellfish are an important example of intertidal life that provide food and other ecosystem services such as reef structure and filtration.

Click here for more information about the Salish Sea (Puget Sound, Georgia Straits) basin ecosystem.

Garden of the Salish Sea Curriculum is funded in part by a Washington Department of Ecology Waste Reduction and Recycling Education grant, with general support provided by the Pacific Northwest Grassroots Fund, and Grow Your Roots Min-grant funds administered by the Rose Foundation for Communities and the Environment, Alicia Rule funds through the Washington State Legislature and the Whatcom Coalition for Environmental Education, Whatcom Community Foundation’s Sustainable Whatcom Fund, the Everson Lions Club and donations. In-kind contributions from the Drayton Harbor Oyster Company and volunteers help us deliver programming!

We kindly thank them all!

We acknowledge and respect the treaty rights of the Coast Salish Peoples to the lands and waters of the Salish Sea and we recognize their stewardship since time immemorial.

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