FCRW - Watershed Education Center

Cedar River Watershed Education Center

The Friends of the Cedar River and Seattle Public Utilities have formed a partnership to construct a first-class cultural and environmental education center for use by all residents and visitors to the Puget Sound area. Check out recent photos of the education center.

The Watershed Education Center, located just outside the watershed's boundaries, serves 30,000 school children each year, and welcome visitors, families, corporate groups, researchers and scientists.

The Center is open to the casual visitor, and is an important resource for the more serious student. It helps visitors to understand the complex issues surrounding the future of our drinking water, our forests, and our salmon. It also makes available the collected artifacts and 9,400 year history of human activity in the watershed. It has a learning laboratory where students and scientists can explore the science of the watershed. And it hosts conferences, retreats, and programs fostering public dialogue to meet environmental stewardship challenges.

What does the Watershed Education Center look like?

The Cedar River Watershed Education Center is nestled on a ridge overlooking Rattlesnake Lake. Built with respect for the natural landscape, and with a focus on recycled materials, the facility echoes in design what the Center will achieve through its programs. Covered walkways and roofs of sod link the Center's buildings:

The Learning Laboratory will let students, teachers, and families explore the science of the watershed. It will put the riches of the watershed in students' hands and help spur the education of our next generation of scientists and natural resource managers.

The Conference Center hosts school groups, environmental groups and tribal organizations and the scientists who are conducting cutting-edge environmental research in the watershed. It also provides a perfect setting for conference or professional groups, and even the occasional wedding reception.

The Heritage Research Library archives and makes available the collected artifacts of 9,400 years of human activity in the watershed, supplementing our understanding of the watershed's cultural and natural history.

The Forest Court, at the heart of the Watershed Education Center, mirrors the watershed's ecology with native plants, a meandering stream, and Rain Drums played by nature.

The Interpretive Hall will tell the unique story of the watershed through hands-on, interactive exhibits, to help visitors understand the complex issues surrounding the future of our drinking water, our forests, fish, and wildlife. The Friends of the Cedar River Watershed are still accepting donations to fund the fabrication and installation of exhibits.

Public focus on water resources and land stewardship is increasing the need for information and dialogue. The watershed, where those issues are an everyday reality, is an ideal location for an environmental education center.

Recent Photos of the Watershed Education Center

Construction of the path outside the auditorium
Construction of the path outside the auditorium

Stream flowing beneath the footbridge
Stream flowing beneath the footbridge

View of the outside of the
auditorium
Outside the auditorium

What does the Watershed Education Center look like? The Cedar River Watershed Education Center is nestled on a ridge overlooking Rattlesnake Lake. Built with respect for the natural landscape, and with a focus on recycled materials, the facility echoes in design what the Center will achieve through its programs. Covered walkways and roofs of sod link the Center's buildings: The Learning Laboratory will let students, teachers, and families explore the science of the watershed. It will put the riches of the watershed in students' hands and help spur the education of our next generation of scientists and natural resource managers. The Conference Center hosts school groups, environmental groups and tribal organizations and the scientists who are conducting cutting-edge environmental research in the watershed. It also provides a perfect setting for conference or professional groups, and even the occasional wedding reception. The Heritage Research Library archives and makes available the collected artifacts of 9,400 years of human activity in the watershed, supplementing our understanding of the watershed's cultural and natural history. The Forest Court, at the heart of the Watershed Education Center, mirrors the watershed's ecology with native plants, a meandering stream, and Rain Drums played by nature. The Interpretive Hall will tell the unique story of the watershed through hands-on, interactive exhibits, to help visitors understand the complex issues surrounding the future of our drinking water, our forests, fish, and wildlife. The Friends of the Cedar River Watershed are still accepting donations to fund the fabrication and installation of exhibits. Public focus on water resources and land stewardship is increasing the need for information and dialogue. The watershed, where those issues are an everyday reality, is an ideal location for an environmental education center. Recent Photos of the Watershed Education Center
Construction of the path outside the auditorium
Stream flowing beneath the footbridge
Outside the auditorium