Waskowitz Outdoor Education Center will be set aside for school and public use, thanks to an agreement between the school district, Trust for Public Land and King County.
A conservation easement will preserve Waskowitz Outdoor Education Center and 345 acres of surrounding forest. The agreement protects the area from development in perpetuity and provide over $7 million to maintain the outdoor education center, fund scholarships and expand public access to scenic trails.
Highline’s outdoor education program is recognized as a statewide model. Since 1947, Highline students have attended outdoor school at Waskowitz. The outdoor education center hosts around 3,000 students a year from Highline and other school districts for four- to five-day sessions.
“We’re proud to secure Waskowitz as green space for future generations,” said Highline Superintendent Ivan Duran. “This will ensure that all Highline students have the opportunity to participate in outdoor education as part of their learning experience, now and in the future.”
“Access to the outdoors can have a profound impact on young people’s health and their understanding of the world around them,” said Trust for Public Land’s Northwest Director Mitsu Iwasaki. “Ensuring preservation of Waskowitz as an outdoor education center will enrich the lives of current and future generations.”
Waskowitz alumni include former U.S. Secretary of the Interior Sally Jewell, Governor Jay Inslee, Superintendent of Public Instruction Chris Reykdal, and State Senator Mark Mullet.
Highline has agreed to allow recreational use when school programs are not in session. Over 300 forested acres and several miles of trails will be open to the public.
The King County Conservation Futures Tax and Parks Levy provided $7.33 million to fund the acquisition. Additional project funding came from Trust for Public Land, Highline Public Schools, the Mountains to Sound Greenway Trust, and generous donors to the Jim Ellis Fund for Land Conservation.