Healthy Watershed, Healthy You! – Part 1
This academic year, SEA will explore connections between environmental and human health. The two are undeniably intertwined. Humans have a direct impact on the health of the environment and the health of the environment directly affects human health. This year, we will head outside to various sites in the Anacostia watershed to investigate topics and issues that affect the health of our watershed and us as humans. We will also dive deeper into nature-based, recreational activities that focus on supporting positive human health. Get ready to meditate on the Anacostia River by boat, do art therapy at Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens, plant native trees in the watershed, and more!
Fall 2025 Semester Schedule
October 4, 2025
Get to know the other SEA students and staff, help form SEA expectations, and learn about our theme at this fall kick-off session! Explore connections to our theme as we visit a special spot in the watershed to join naturalists and Certified Forest Therapy Guides, Ana Ka’ahanui from Capital Nature and Sage Raindancer from Raindancer Healing Arts, for an introduction to forest bathing. “Shinrin-yoku,” or taking in the forest atmosphere with all of your senses, is a way to slow down, unwind, connect to the natural world, and experience nature’s healing benefits. Through a series of simple sensory exercises, we will be experiencing the wonders of nature with this relaxing mindfulness practice. Get to know the other SEA students and staff, help form SEA expectations, and learn about our theme at this spring kick-off session! We will join City Blossoms, a longtime partner of SEA, for a community garden workday. These events help protect and create greenspace in our watershe – an essential component for a healthy watershed and river.
October 11, 2025
Dig into our theme and environmental + human health connections at an urban farm! We’ll tour this unique schoolyard-based site in our watershed; do multiple hands-on activities in the gardens like weeding, planting, mulching, watering, and painting; and maybe even get to taste some of the fresh, healthy goodies that grow there.Meet AWS staff on our Restoration team to help with a long-time and successful restoration program– planting native wild rice. We will head to a special spot in the Anacostia watershed, along the river, to plant native wild rice via “mud balls” to continue these efforts!
October 18, 2025
Take a meditative and reflective boat ride down the Anacostia River. The goal is to connect with nature and ourselves, and learn more about the health of the Anacostia River. This activity is a part of the Anacostia Watershed Society’s (AWS) pilot Forest Bathing Program. Our facilitator has been training as a forest bathing guide through the Shinrin-Yoku Association. Come as you are, with an open mind, ready to experience the river and the healing aspects of nature.
October25, 2025
Meet staff from AWS’s partner, Casey Trees, which works to protect and restore the tree canopy in DC. Their mission and work has a direct impact on the health of our watershed and community. We will travel to a local park to meet Casey Trees, discuss the forest patch in the park with Park Tree Stewards, practice tree identification along the eastern hillside, and remove invasive species to help protect the native trees. The primary invasive species that we will be removing is kudzu, but we will likely encounter bush honeysuckle, porcelain berry, and ivy as well.
November 1, 2025
Join other staff from AWS for a native tree planting in a local park in the Anacostia Watershed. We will focus on clearing invasive species and then planting native trees in the forested area damaged by the invasive emerald ash borer beetle. Planting these trees is important because they will help to increase biodiversity in the tree canopy, slow and filter stormwater runoff before it goes into the Anacostia River, help prevent erosion of the riverbank, and create habitat for wildlife. Some of the species we will plant could include black willows, swamp white oaks, swamp chestnut oaks, sycamores, bald cypresses, black gums, pin oaks, and river birches.
November 8, 2025
Participate in a special WELLderness session at a beautiful wetland/park in our Anacostia watershed. We will learn about the value of this unique area in helping to improve the health of the Anacostia River and watershed and community members. We will also engage in wellness activities like art therapy and wetland exploration. It will be a wonderful way to culminate our fall program!
Saturday Environmental Academy
The 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.
