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The next session starts Wednesday, October 7th!
Get ready to learn how to be a sustainable community steward at our volunteer training series – join us and make a difference!
Become a WSU Snohomish County Extension Sustainable Community Steward and learn what can and can’t be recycled, how to reduce waste, and why individual and community-level actions make a difference towards climate change. Become more engaged in your local community by enrolling in this fall’s training sessions.
Those who sign up will receive university-level training grounded in climate change science relevant both within Snohomish County and globally. The training shapes participants into informed community educators and prepares them for a volunteer commitment of at least 3 events a year. A combination of engaging classroom presentations and discussions paired with behind-the-scenes field trips highlight this educational and community engagement opportunity.
Schedule
The training is every Wednesday evening starting October 7th through November 18th, from 6 – 8:30 p.m. There will be 4 in-person classes at the WSU Snohomish County Extension office at Willis Tucker Park, 6705 Puget Park Dr., Snohomish, 1 in-person class at the Shoreline Tool Library, and 2 classes will be online using Zoom. Here is the schedule:
- In-person: October 7th
- Online: October 14th
- In-person: October 21st
- Online: October 28th
- In-person: November 4th
- In-person at the Shoreline Tool Library: November 11th
- In-person: November 18th
Training includes an overview of environmental sustainability and climate change solutions with a deep dive into waste reduction and recycling right. The training features presentations on environmental justice, food waste prevention, and the circular economy as well as home composting and DIY eco-friendly cleaning product demonstrations. Classes will feature speakers from WSU Extension, Republic Services, Seattle REconomy, Zero Waste Washington, and more.
Further, the training includes field trips to local companies, county buildings, and public utilities. Some dates are still TBA, but see the scheduled tours below:
- Cedar Grove Compost | Wednesday, October 14th | 10am – 12pm
- WM Cascade Recycling Center | Friday, October 16th | 12pm – 1:30pm
- Southwest Recycling and Transfer Station | Thursday, October 22nd | 10am – 12pm
- Woods Creek Hydropower Project | Monday, November 9th | 10am – 12pm
- Brightwater Treatment Plant | Friday, November 13th | 10am – 12pm
Price
The training costs $55, and covers all 7 classes. Accommodations and fee-waivers available upon request. WSU Snohomish County Extension programs are open to all without discrimination.
Community Educators
Once trained, volunteers then give back to the community by sharing what they learned through various events, projects and activities. Sustainable Community Stewards pledge to volunteer at 3 events a year.
Here are endorsements from our volunteers that participated in past training series
“Everyone has changed my perspective and, most importantly, given me hope.”
“I have loved this class! I am so much more aware of my impacts now. I think each day about what changes I can make and have made since I started the training.”
“I enjoyed the gathering atmosphere, I feel like we’re all trash buddies.”
“This course blew me away! Loved it and I’m excited to learn and do more!
Each person gets to select which projects they work on, with options like Styrofoam recycling events, Repair Cafés, DIY cleaning product workshops, upcycled art classes, teaching sewing skills to reduce textile waste, the sustainability newsletter, waste-sorting at events and more. We do not require any other training.
Reasonable accommodations will be made for persons with disabilities and special needs who contact Kellee Byard at (425) 357-6027 or kellee.byard@wsu.edu at least three weeks prior to the event date.
Extension programs and policies are consistent with federal and state laws and regulations on nondiscrimination regarding race, color, gender, national origin, religion, age, disability, and sexual orientation. Evidence of non-compliance may be reported through your local Extension Office.
Potential topics covered in the Sustainable Community Stewards training.
- Sustainability 101
- Recycling Right and Waste Diversion
- Zero Waste Legislative Update and Tips
- Food Waste Prevention
- Backyard Composting
- Renewable Energy
- Water Conservation
- Project Drawdown
- Our Plastic Problem
- The Circular Economy and Systems of Reuse
- Environmental Justice
- Communicating with your Community – Graduation!