“In recent times, we have come to believe that we do not need nature to live healthy lives. This is wrong. We need nature for everything, from the food we eat to the air we breathe. We are not separate from or above nature. We are part of it.”
EarthWilders was started by Alexandra Perkins, a pediatrician concerned about the number of children coming to the hospital with mental health complaints. A climate activist when not on the clock, Dr. Perkins was very engaged in ecosystem restoration work to heal damaged ecosystems in her area. She realized that getting kids involved in ecosystem restoration could be a wonderful way to alleviate some of the mental health issues she was seeing.
Dr. Perkins started EarthWilders so that students could address the problem of biodiversity loss and climate change while simultaneously building resiliency and coping mechanisms. She partnered with the New Futures After School Program through Southwest Youth and Family Services. New Futures serves youth and their families from King County Housing Authority sites in Burien, WA. Most of the students in the program come from immigrant or refugee families and experience educational and other disparities. All qualify for low-income housing. New Futures provides after-school and summer programs. Norma, who manages the New Futures youth program in Burien, and other New Futures staff were critical in helping establish the EarthWilders program. EarthWilders works with the middle school students in New Futures, ages 11-14. Dr. Perkins also partnered with educators Orian and Joanna from the Environmental Science Center (ESC) in Seahurst Park, Burien. ESC is a nonprofit organization offering experiential environmental education programs at local beaches, streams, forested areas, and school gardens throughout South King County.
Thus far, EarthWilders has completed a spring and summer session in 2024, and it plans to continue well into the future!
If you are interested in this project or want more information, don’t hesitate to reach out! Contact us at [email protected]
