Sustainable Community Stewards Volunteer Training Series

Get ready to learn how to be a sustainable community steward at our volunteer training series - join us and make a difference!
About this Event

Become a WSU Snohomish County Extension Sustainable Community Steward and learn what can and can’t be recycled, how to reduce waste, and why individual and community-level actions make a difference towards climate change. Become more engaged in your local community by enrolling in this fall’s training sessions.

Those who sign up will receive university-level training grounded in climate change science relevant both within Snohomish County and globally. The training shapes participants into informed community educators and prepares them for a volunteer commitment of at least 3 events a year. A combination of engaging classroom presentations and discussions paired with behind-the-scenes field trips highlight this educational and community engagement opportunity.

Schedule

The training is every Wednesday evening starting September 10th and ending November 5th, from 6 – 8:30 p.m. There will be 4 in-person classes at the WSU Snohomish County Extension office at Willis Tucker Park, 6705 Puget Park Dr., Snohomish, and 3 classes will be on Zoom. Here is the schedule:

• In-person: October 7th
• Zoom: October 14th
• In-person: October 21st
• Zoom: October 28th
• In-person: November 4th
• Zoom: November 11th
• In-person: November 18th

Training includes an overview of environmental sustainability and climate change solutions with a deep dive into waste reduction and recycling right. The training features presentations on environmental justice, food waste prevention, and the circular economy as well as home composting and DIY eco-friendly cleaning product demonstrations. Classes will feature speakers from WSU Extension, Republic Services, Seattle REconomy, Zero Waste Washington, and more.

Further, the training includes field trips to local companies, county buildings, and public utilities. Some dates are still TBA, but see the scheduled tours below:

• WM Cascade Recycling Center | Friday, October 16th | 12pm - 1:30pm
• Southwest Recycling and Transfer Station | Thursday, October 22nd | 10am - 12pm
• Woods Creek Hydropower Project | Monday, November 9th | 10am - 12pm
• Brightwater Treatment Plant | TBA
• Cedar Grove Compost | TBA
• Shoreline Tool Library | TBA

Price

The training costs $55, and covers all 7 classes. Accommodations and fee-waivers available upon request. WSU Snohomish County Extension programs are open to all without discrimination.

Register before September 7th for 10% off.

Community Educators

Once trained, volunteers then give back to the community by sharing what they learned through various events, projects and activities. Sustainable Community Stewards pledge to volunteer at 3 events a year.

Here are endorsements from volunteers who took this training:

"Everyone has changed my perception and, most importantly, given me hope."
“I have loved this class! I am so much more aware of my impacts now. I think each day about what changes I can make and have made since I started the training."
"I enjoyed the gathering atmosphere, I feel like we're all trash buddies."
"This course blew me away! Loved it and I'm excited to learn and do more!

Each person gets to select which projects they work on, with options like Styrofoam recycling events, Repair Cafés, Green Cleaning workshops, the sustainability newsletter, waste-sorting at events and more. We do not require any other training.

Register before September 7th for 10% off. For more information, visit the Sustainability Stewards website, contact [email protected], or call 425-357-6027.

Reasonable accommodations will be made for persons with disabilities and special needs who contact Kellee Byard at (425) 357-6027 or [email protected] at least three weeks prior to the event date.
Extension programs and policies are consistent with federal and state laws and regulations on nondiscrimination regarding race, color, gender, national origin, religion, age, disability, and sexual orientation. Evidence of non-compliance may be reported through your local Extension Office.