Stillwaters Environmental Education Center

Overview
Stillwaters Environmental Education Center was a nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing scientific research, environmental education, and habitat restoration specifically focused on Puget Sound lowland streams and estuaries. The organization operated primarily in the North Kitsap region and worked closely with community members to promote sustainability and ecological stewardship through diverse educational programs, volunteer opportunities, and ecological monitoring.[1][2][4]

History and Mission
Founded with the mission to teach, inspire, and support individuals and groups in sustainable use and restoration of local aquatic ecosystems, Stillwaters concentrated its efforts on the Carpenter Creek estuary and adjacent watersheds. It provided educational experiences ranging from climate change lectures and bird behavior classes to hands-on stream monitoring and invasive species management.[1][2][4]

Integration with Great Peninsula Conservancy
In November 2023, Stillwaters Environmental Education Center became a program of the Great Peninsula Conservancy (GPC), forming part of GPC’s Land Labs program. This strategic integration was initiated by the Stillwaters board to ensure the continuation and expansion of its environmental education and community science efforts while allowing its founders to transition towards retirement.[1][3]

As a GPC program, Stillwaters continues to engage youth and community members in research, restoration, and stewardship of the Carpenter Creek estuary. The integration has enabled the preservation of Stillwaters’ legacy and infused its work with new resources and ideas to extend its impact on North Kitsap’s environmental education landscape.[3]

Programs and Activities
Before its integration, Stillwaters offered year-round educational opportunities including:

• Lectures on environmental topics such as climate change
• Classes on local wildlife behavior
• Stream and estuary ecological monitoring, including invasive species like the European green crab
• Volunteer-driven restoration projects
• Community science initiatives coordinated with local educational institutions[1][2][4]

These programs aimed to foster a deeper understanding of local ecosystems and promote active participation in their preservation.

Financials
According to publicly available nonprofit financial data, Stillwaters Environmental Education Center reported revenues and expenses in the range of approximately $57,000 to $187,000 in recent years, with total assets and liabilities varying accordingly. These financial figures illustrate the organization’s scale and capacity within the local environmental nonprofit sector.[5]

Stillwaters Environmental Education Center’s integration into the Great Peninsula Conservancy marks a continuation of its commitment to environmental education and restoration in the Puget Sound region under a larger organizational framework, ensuring its mission endures and evolves.