Washington Native Plant Society

Youth Ecology Education Restoration (YEER): YEER started as a two-year pilot program in 2021, and was so successful was extended to school years 2023-25. It is an innovative educational program including stewards, teachers, students, and land managers to teach restoration in real life experiences for the students. In two primary components; a five-week unit where students take on the role of restoration ecologists and a field experience, where the students partner with restoration experts to implement restoration components typically over two days work on public land. PY 2024-2025 will serve 928 students, with 10 teachers and 19 stewards supporting the program. Students planted 1,303 native plants covering over 17,000 square feet of restoration area.

Stewardship Training: WNPS educates community volunteers about our regions native plants and plant communities, and teaches how to use this knowledge to protect and restore Washingtons natural ecosystems. WNPS has committed over twenty years of steward training to conserve, protect and sustain the biodiversity of the native flora of Washington. Participants agree to return service hours at least equivalent to their training hours in efforts such as habitat restoration in forests and woodlands, shrub-steppe, prairies, riparian and wetlands. By using stewardship training to support our YEER program above, both programs benefit each other. Continuing education is also offered to Veteran Plant Stewards.

Native Plant Grants Program: The standing committees of the Washington Native Plant Society award grants annually for conservation, education, and research. In 2024, they awarded $23,570 in grants. WNPS chapters contributed an additional grants of $15,234. And for the seventh year in a row, WNPS was a sponsor of University of Washingtons annual Botany Symposium. Customers for these grants include state agencies, other non-profit organizations, K-12 schools, grad students, and general member volunteers.

Native Plant Sales: WNPS hosts plant sales are held as online/in-person events at the chapter level for highly sought after native plants around the state. Customers like the at-home online shopping experience, along with knowing which plants are available. These sales provide extensive education of plant materials to home gardeners and landscapers utilizing native species in their landscapes. In 2024, the chapters have improved availability by propagation (and training) of some selections to increase availability. Any remaining plants not sold online are offered during the time of plant pickup. Three chapter plant sale stores were active in 2024, providing chapter revenue to support programs, and resources in the community to support native plant gardening. Hundreds of customers have obtained plants through this program.

Other Program Expenses