Columbia Springs sets school programs record

Vancouver – More than 4,400 K-12 students attended field trips at Columbia Springs during the 2015-16 school year. That’s a new record for the environmental education nonprofit on the Old Evergreen Highway.

It’s also 1,000 more students from Vancouver, Evergreen and other local school districts who attended educational programs at Columbia Springs the previous school year.

The number of students has increased by about 40 percent in the past two school years. Last year there was a waiting list.

The field trips are aligned with state learning standards. Some programs dovetail into curriculum kids are learning at school, said Jenna Kallestad, K-12 education coordinator.

Kallestad is working with school districts to integrate Next Generation Science Standards into Columbia Springs’ programs. NGSS focus on science and engineering practices, problem solving, acquiring information and presenting student learning, Kallestad said.

To learn more, visit www.columbiasprings.org.