Free Environmental Education for Middle Schoolers
Introduction to the Saturday Environmental Academy
The Anacostia Watershed Society’s Saturday Environmental Academy (SEA) is a free environmental education program for 6th, 7th, and 8th grade students that is held on Saturdays. SEA is unique in its program depth, focus, and duration for the underserved middle school audience. We stimulate interest in and provide a fundamental education about the environment, specifically that of the Anacostia River Watershed, in a developmentally appropriate, meaningful way.
SEA offers two multi-week programs each year, one in the fall and one in the spring. Sessions are held on Saturdays from 9:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. at outdoor sites throughout the area. Students learn about the Anacostia River and local environment while developing skills in team building, critical thinking, and scientific investigation.Students may participate in one or all six semesters of their time in middle school. SEA also runs a Student Leader program which allows former SEA middle school participants to apply for one of these leadership positions. The SEA teaching team supports Student Leaders in strengthening presentation, communication, leadership, organization, and other skills. This program is run in conjunction with our normally held program and provides Student Leaders with the opportunity to obtain service hours or stipends.
SEA involves students in a wide variety of outdoor learning opportunities, such as riverside cleanups, boat trips, tree plantings, invasive species removal, and urban/community garden activities. These and other activities provide youth with a deeper understanding of the Anacostia River, the watershed community, and the impact that people have on the natural world.
The multi-week format is designed to build on students’ experiences from week-to-week, strengthening their grasp of the material and reinforcing the connections between sessions. SEA maintains a 5:1 student/teacher ratio, which allows for consistent, individual attention and building meaningful mentoring relationships. Additionally, because the students come from a range of schools, the program fosters relationships that cross neighborhood boundaries, strengthening the students’ appreciation for their wider community.
What Parents/Guardians say about SEA
Benefits to students participating in SEA
- Visit cool environmental spots around DC & MD (parks, gardens, wetlands, etc.).
- Participate in hands-on activities and learn how you can make a difference for our environment!
- Earn service hours for sessions that are service-oriented (e.g., tree planting).
- Make new friends outside of your school!
- Build your portfolio for high school and college.
- Work with dedicated, fun SEA Teacher/Mentors in a small student to teacher ratio.
Guidelines for participation
- The Academy is free to all 6th, 7th, & 8th grade students. Students in the Anacostia Watershed (DC wards 5, 6, 7, & 8 and some areas of MD) are strongly encouraged to apply.
- Accepted students are expected to attend EVERY Saturday session in a multi-week semester program. Limited exceptions are made, e.g., for illness, travel, and testing. When possible, the SEA Program Director must be notified in advance of an absence and reason.
- Students should arrive at our meeting location in front of Chisholm Elementary School at 1001 G Street, SE, DC every Saturday promptly at 9:00 a.m. They should be promptly picked up at 1:00 p.m. if not given permission to take public transportation or walk.
- Students learn best by doing, so they will be participating in activities that are outside most of the time. Students should wear clothes that can get dirty.
- Closed-toe shoes and long pants are a requirement.
To apply for your 6th, 7th, or 8th grade child to participate, please complete and return the Saturday Environmental Academy general application (or semester specific application, highlighted at the top of this webpage at certain times of the year). Contact Catherine Estes, SEA Program Director, at cestes@anacostiaws.org if you have any questions.
See updates and photos of the Saturday Environmental Academy in action on Facebook.
