Environmental Education Volunteering

Become a volunteer with the Environmental Education Team!

Volunteers develop skills in customer service, public speaking, working with and teaching youth, guiding tours for families, and much more. In addition, we are looking for volunteers to join our new Citywide Environmental Education Advisory Council. Please scroll down to the volunteer positions that speaks to you.

Please note that all volunteers must agree to a Washington State Patrol background check 

Seattle Urban Nature Guides

Seattle Urban Nature Guides enhance, promote and foster appreciation of nature by connecting families and students with their Seattle parklands, and providing educational opportunities for all.

As a Seattle Urban Nature Guide, you will:

• Learn valuable job skills including communication, public speaking, teamwork, and teaching techniques.
• Receive FREE training on environmental education techniques and equity concepts to connect with a wide variety of audiences
• Lead hands on learning experiences in a variety of settings from playgrounds to beaches.

Applications are OPEN for the Seattle Urban Nature Guide volunteer program. The deadline to submit applications for the Fall 2026 volunteer training will be Monday, August 4th. 

Read about the SUN Guide Program and apply

Join our email list!  Be notified when applications open for training.  We have cohorts in the Spring and Fall each year.

Information provided on these forms is considered a public record and may be subject to public disclosure. For more information, see the Public Records Act, RCW Chapter 42.56. To learn more about how we manage your information, see our Privacy Statement at http://www.seattle.gov/privacy-statement

Questions? Please email PKSNatureFieldTrips@seattle.gov for more information.

Salmon Stewards

Interested in connecting your community with Seattle’s salmon and local waterways? The Seattle Parks and Recreation Environmental Education Team, in partnership with Seattle Public Utilities and Carkeek Watershed Community Action Project, invite you to become a Salmon Steward at Carkeek Park. Each autumn, spawning chum salmon return to Piper’s Creek in Carkeek Park, attracting thousands of visitors eager to witness this incredible natural event. 

Salmon Steward volunteers help visitors learn about salmon, their habitat, and the actions we can all take to protect the health of our local waterways. 

Volunteers learn from Seattle Parks and Seattle Public Utilities staff using the best available science, gaining knowledge and skills to engage with visitors and share meaningful information about salmon and the urban habitat at Carkeek Park. 

For questions about the program, please contact SalmonStewards@seattle.gov

Citywide Environmental Education Advisory Council

We are excited to introduce the newly recognized Citywide Environmental Education Advisory Council. The CEEAC works with Seattle Parks and Recreation to offer community perspective, advice, and consultation on environmental education opportunities across Seattle.

The CEEAC envisions programming that promotes representation where everyone is seen, heard, and valued.  Uplifting the experiences and knowledge of BIPOC will help guide the CEEAC mission so that our communities can engage with and learn from nature.

Meetings are scheduled on the third Tuesday of every month from 6:30-8:00 pm. Meetings are being held virtually until further notice.

All are welcome! These meetings are public and open to the community; please join us! For access to the next meeting, to join the council as a volunteer or for general questions about the work we are doing, please email Giovannina.Souers@seattle.gov.