Chehalis Basin Education Consortium

The Chehalis Basin Education Consortium (CBEC) is a partnership comprised of Educational Service District 113, school districts, natural resource agencies, Grays Harbor College, the Chehalis River Council and other nonprofit agencies within the Chehalis watershed.  The primary purpose of this project is “to support stewardship of the Chehalis watershed through environmental education by linking Washington’s learning goals and standards to environmental issues that are part of this watershed.  In addition, the program aims to provide related professional development and enrichment opportunities for teachers.”

The Chehalis basin is the second largest watershed in the state.  It covers 2,660 square miles.  Its boundary on the west is the Pacific Ocean, the east, the Deschutes River basin, on the north, the Olympic Mountains, and on the south, the Willapa Hills and Cowlitz River basins.  Major population centers include Chehalis, Centralia, Aberdeen, and Hoquiam.

Participating school districts include:  Aberdeen, Adna, Boistfort, Centralia, Chehalis, Elma, Mary M. Knight, Montesano, Napavine, Oakville, Ocosta, Onalaska, Rochester, and Tumwater in the Chehalis basin.

What does the CBEC program offer teachers?

• Teacher training on a range of watershed topics including water quality monitoring, Project WET: Water Education for Teachers  and “River of Words” – the integration of art and poetry into watershed studies
• Monitoring test kits and most chemical refills
• Watershed library and resource materials, including curriculum, maps, and “Project WET” activity totes
• Substitute teachers for water quality monitoring days and Student Congress
• Bus transportation for some monitoring days, Student Congress, and action projects
• Contacts with community members for action projects and guest speakers
• Information about current issues and potential supplemental funding sources
• Ongoing training and support from program coordinator

We encourage all CBEC teachers to:

• Attend trainings and workshops offered, including fall monitoring training for review
• Update monitoring chemicals yearly
• Integrate watershed education into the curriculum
• Participate with students in fall and spring monitoring
• Prepare and bring student delegates to annual spring Student Congress
• Involve students in action projects (planting trees along the Chehalis River, litter pick-up at boat launches, etc.)
• Involve community members with student projects
• Submit water quality monitoring data to CBEC coordinator

Want to get involved?

If you are a 4^th through 12^th grade teacher interested in becoming involved with the CBEC, please contact:  Kathy Jacobson, CBEC Coordinator (360) 464-6722 or kjacobson@esd113.k12.wa.us

Return home