Washington State Naturalist Program of Spokane County
The Washington State Naturalist (WANAT) program aims to educate individuals seeking to volunteer with organizations doing environmental education, stewardship, and research. This is a WSU legacy-program that is a collaboration between WSU Extension and the WSU School of the Environment. The program works to increase public awareness and knowledge about the environment, conservation, scientific inquiry, and ecosystem function to promote stewardship. The program graduates will gain skills and knowledge to make informed decisions on environmental issues and be able to serve their communities as environmental educators, stewards, and community scientists. Please note, this is still a burgeoning program, so we are only able to accept applicants who can commit to volunteering with our partner organizations in select areas. We’re working to secure more partnerships statewide so that we can then offer this program to anyone in Washington.
Upcoming Volunteer Opportunities
Email volunteers@dishmanhills.org for more details.
Partnerships
Dishman Hills Conservancy
Dishman Hills Conservancy (DHC) operates in Spokane in Spokane County. Their mission is to permanently protect the Dishman Hills while connecting people to nature through conservation, education, recreation, and stewardship. The DHC collaborates with local schools and educators to organize educational events in the Dishman Hills, such as Kids in the Hills, as well as collaborating with local schools and summer camps. They also offer a self-guided tour (with an informational map and brochure) of their Enchanted Ravine, available on their Outdoor Resources webpage. Be sure to check out their event calendar for guided hikes as well, led by various DHC staff members and volunteers.
Proposed Volunteer Opportunities for 2026 (PDF)
Contact Information
Ruth Gifford: Executive Director
Email: ED@DishmanHills.org
Spokane County Water Resources
Spokane County Water Resources provides K-12 and beyond water education at the County Wastewater Reclamation facility, Doris Morrison Learning Center at Saltese Flats Wetland, in-classroom visits, community outreach events or other off-site locations. They teach about the precious local water resources including the Spokane Valley-Rathdrum Prairie Aquifer and the Spokane River watershed as well as stormwater, wastewater and natural water cycles. Their activities are informative, hands-on and interactive for learners. They also align with education standards and help students learn about human impacts on water as well as appreciating and conserving it for generations to come.
Contact Information
RaeAnn Nolander: Water Resources Education Specialist
Email: RNOLANDER@SpokaneCounty.gov
Spokane Conservation District
The Spokane Conservation District (SCD) is a locally led agency dedicated to protecting and enhancing the natural resources of Spokane County through education, technical assistance, and community partnerships. In 2017, SCD transformed a 50-acre former industrial site into The Quarry—a thriving conservation campus and community hub where education, innovation, and sustainability converge. Volunteer opportunities include serving as a trail docent to share conservation information with visitors, leading seasonal hikes, and supporting campus clean-up and restoration events, primarily from spring through summer.
Contact Information
Hilary Gonzalez: Community Engagement Manager
Email: hilary@spokanecd.org
Great Peninsula Conservancy (GPC)
Great Peninsula Conservancy (GPC) operates in Bremerton and around Kitsap County. This organization protects land by creating nature preserves that they own, partnering with public agencies to create local parks, and by placing permanent restrictions on private land that help sustain family farms and forests through generations. GPC works in collaboration with community groups, local governments, tribes, and landowners, providing the tools and expertise to preserve forever the special landscapes of the Great Peninsula region. They offer several educational opportunities, including stewardship work parties, habitat protection trainings, and “walk and talks” where topics from wildlife tracking to benthic sampling may be discussed. The GPC focuses on environmental education through their Land Labs program where they reach middle school students in the Bremerton School District.
Contact Information
Gabriel Newton: Community Engagement Manager
Email: gabriel@greatpeninsula.org