Meadowbrook Blue Team Restores our Watershed

This Earth Day, Meadowbrook School’s (MBS) secondary students took their commitment to environmental stewardship to the banks of the Snoqualmie River. Students partnered with Nature Vision and the Changing Seasons Farm, as part of their Blue Team program, to continue a vital, multi-year study of the local salmon spawning watershed near Carnation.

Hands-On Habitat Restoration

The Blue Team didn't just study the environment; they rolled up their sleeves to save it. Throughout the day, students engaged in critical restoration work:

• Water Quality Testing: Using specialized monitoring kits, students analyzed the river’s health.
• Bio-Indicator Assessment: Through "insect dips," students identified macroinvertebrates to gauge the water’s tolerance to pollution.
• Invasive Species Removal: The team removed aggressive non-native blackberries to make way for local growth.
• Reforestation: Native species were planted along the riverbank to prevent erosion and provide shade for migrating salmon.

From Learners to Leaders

This year’s project goes beyond field research. MBS upper-middle- and high-school students have spent months delving into complex issues such as microplastics, drought, and the impact of wildfires. Now, they are turning that expertise into leadership. MBS secondary students have designed interactive lessons to share with Meadowbrook Elementary students, in a multi-age collaboration at the end of May. This peer-to-peer mentorship fosters a school-wide culture of conservation and ensures that the next generation of "Blue Teamers" is ready to lead.

“We are incredibly proud of our students' dedication to long-term environmental science and their passion for protecting our local ecosystem!” shared MBS Secondary Science teacher Samantha Randalls.

The Meadowbrook School (MBS), formerly called the SVSD Parent Partnership Program, is an Alternative Learning Experience (ALE) program that offers two options for students. This story refers to the “MBS in Person” program that provides K-12 families who prefer to educate their students at home, with technology resources, certificated staff to partner on independent education plans, in-class instruction two days a week, and a school community. Additionally, MBS Online offers a 100% online learning option for Snoqualmie Valley families.