ESC Spring 2018 Newsletter

The Environmental Science Center’s Spring 2018
NATURAL CONNECTIONS

ESC’s Joanna Stodden is Educator of the Year!

Being curious is a great way to connect with
nature. Having a mentor encourage this, while
sharing an equal passion for you and your
discoveries, makes learning natural. This is one
reason ESC’s Program Manager Joanna Stodden
became Educator of the Year for Discover
Burien’s 2018 Best of Burien Awards.

“I was so honored to receive this reward. When I
was young, I was not a great student. I had ADHD
and I loved distracting the other students. By
second grade, the timeout corner was more
familiar to me than the classroom. I was just
fortunate to come from a family of educators who
recognized this model was not working for me. I
got transferred to a school that had a garden and
our ELA tasks were writing letters to our plant
friends, our science labs were making observations
of the live salmon we were raising in the
classroom,” she said at the ceremony.

“I went from being the worst student in the class to
being the most engaged and just fell in love with
learning. These are the kinds of transformations
that I get to see every day in the work that we do
at the Environmental Science Center. I get to see
students touch their first sea star, get squirted by
their first clam, collect data and solve real
problems that are relevant to them and their
communities.”

Joanna joined ESC as a naturalist in 2009 and now
leads the Salmon Heroes and Beach Heroes
programs. She guides students in answering their
own questions through observations and
applications of what they already know. From
identifying species and discovering their unique
adaptations to creating tools and activities for
positive changes. She empowers students of all
ages to become environmental stewards.

“I feel honored to work with all the teachers in
Highline who see the value of getting their
students out of the four walls of the classroom to
our local beaches and forests and rivers. If we
don’t bring the next generation out into nature,
how do we expect them to protect or preserve our
wild areas?”

Education and Action Series

Ocean Acidification: Climate Change’s Evil Twin

What is ocean acidification?
A simple term for a fairly complex phenomenon:. Oceans are becoming more acidic from soaking up the excess carbon dioxide (CO2) that is in the
atmosphere. In this process, the chemistry of the seawater changes — both locally and globally. Over the past 300 million years, ocean pH has been
slightly basic on the pH scale, averaging about 8.2. Today, it is around 8.1, a drop of 0.1 pH units. This represents a 25-percent increase in acidity
over the past two centuries.

What is causing it?
We are! Since the boom of the Industrial Revolution, human activities (aka huge amounts of C02 emis-
sions into the atmosphere) have substantially altered the Earth’s natural carbon cycle. Currently, the
oceans absorb about a third of human-created CO2 emissions, roughly 22 million tons a day (imagine
everyone on Earth throwing a bowling ball of CO2into the ocean every day). Projections based on
these numbers show that by the end of this century, continued emissions could reduce ocean pH by
another 0.5 units.

How does it impact us in Washington and Puget Sound?
Washington is likely to see increased impacts of ocean acidification on marine organisms earlier than
other coastal areas from upwelling, nitrogen inputs, and low oxygen zones. According to the WA
Department of Ecology, our coastal waters experience seasonal upwelling where waters that are
naturally low in oxygen and rich in CO2 rise to the surface. Nutrient runoff from human activities on
land (nitrogen and phosphorous from lawn fertilizers) often includes excess nitrogen that can stimu-
late algae blooms. As they die and sink, bacteria decompose them, depleting oxygen in the process.

Calcifier species include common Seahurst

What does it mean for our marine ecosystems? organisms, like this purple sea star.

Many life processes are sensitive to these rapid chemical changes, especially when it comes to CO2and
pH. In our marine ecosystems, calcifiers are particularly sensitive (including oysters, clams, scallops,
mussels, crabs, sea stars). These organisms depend on the mineral calcium carbonate to make shells, skeletons, and other hard body parts. The essen-
tial carbonate ion is more scarce in acidification conditions and requires calcifiers to use more energy to pull carbonate ions out of the water. It af-
fects their growth in adulthood, resulting in weaker shells and susceptibility to being crushed and/or eaten. Calcifiers include pteropods, delicate free
-swimming snails (known as the “potato chips of the sea”). They are eaten by seabirds, whales and Alaska pink salmon. Impacts on pteropods are a
significant concern because of their ability to affect the entire marine food web.

Ocean acidification has particularly affected oysters, and in turn, the PNW shellfish industry. The Smithsonian Institute reports oyster larvae fail to
even begin growing their shells in acidic waters. This is a huge deal for oysters, who undergo a massive growth spurt within their first 48 hours to
help grow a shell and begin feeding. Massive PNW oyster die-offs became common as early as 2006, with a 70-80% larvae mortality rate.

This NOAA graphic shows the dissolution of a
pteropod shell after 45 days in a solution that
mimicked the projected ocean acidity levels in
2100.
Source: David Liittschwager/National Geo-
graphic Stock

How can we slow the process of ocean acidification?

Support sustainable fisheries: Healthy and r esilient mar ine ecosystems can combat ocean acidification mor e efficiently. Maintain-
ing abundant fish stocks with a great genetic diversity is necessary for them to adapt faster to the world’s evolution.

Reduce nutrient runoff in your own backyard: Avoid using har sh fer tilizer s or insecticides on your lawn that contr ibute to excess
carbon and nitrogen in your local waterways, which will make it to the ocean.

Record-Breaking Success!

Donors came together at our Seaside Soiree in March to raise money in support of environmental
education. Over $53,000 was raised—more than any other year! These donations are training over
2,500 kids this spring to become Beach Heroes, stewards of the beach.
Didn’t get a chance to be part of this success?

GiveBIG Now thru May 9th!

This is the last year you can GiveBIG through the Seattle Foundation. Schedule your donation now
at: www.givebigseattle.org/environmental-science-center-1

Donate over $100 and be entered to win a lunch with Denis Hayes, founder of Earth Day!

ESC Ambassadors

Kim Ha

High school can be a busy time, but we are glad Kim Ha added
volunteering at ESC to her schedule. Since 2016, she has helped
inform children, adults and families on how to be stewards of their
natural surroundings through community activities. These have
focused on watershed health and involved species identification,
water quality monitoring, arts and crafts and restoration activities.

As a member of the Highline High School Key Club, her commit-
ment to service learning is apparent, even after she completed her
quota for service learning hours. “I don’t need any more hours, I
just do this for fun,” she said after a Moonlight Beach Walk. We
are glad her idea of fun is the same as ours.

“I love interacting with the community to teach others about the environment and the creatures living in it.
One of my favorite parts as a volunteer is seeing young children so excited in seeing zooplankton under the microscope.

Their enthusiasm for the environment brightens up my day and inspires me to continue volunteering with ESC. “

Green Business Spotlight

Hot Feet Fitness br ings a br eath of fr esh air to Bur ien….no, literally. Their holistic
view of health is incorporated into their application of sustainable practices, including
their reuse of fresh outdoor air in their hot yoga studio. Instead of the hot stagnant air
found in some gyms, Hot Feet Fitness actually brings the outdoor air in, heats it, and
filters it into the studio. Talk about reuse!
Sustainability runs from head to toes at this fitness studio. “We don’t use harsh
chemicals to clean our yoga mats, we simply steam them and use essential oils,” said
Teanna Gentry, Director of Operations at Hot Feet Fitness. In addition to their mat-
cleaning methods, they also promote the use of non-temporary water bottles and offer
filtered water for their clients. “We do recycle, but we like to give the option for folks to
refill and reuse more readily,” Gentry said.
For Hot Feet, fitness is about way more than just toning muscles. “It’s about a holistic
approach and that relates directly to the environment,” said Gentry. “In yoga, you learn
to recognize your breathing. Take that outside and all of a sudden, you’re focusing on
the air you breathe. You just move through the world differently.” When you’re active,
you’re more likely to ride a bike or walk, like many of the patrons at Hot Feet Fitness.
All of this leads to what Teanna calls a, “holistically healthy

life.” Simply Sustainable
One of the more rejuvenating aspects of spring can be the cleaning. Opening the windows
and doing some rug shakin’ and floor scrubbin’ can ready us for the coming season.
Here are some Do It Yourself ways to help the Earth while springing into cleaning.

 DIY aromatic potpourri — Retire your air fresheners and their often unrecyclable
plastics by making some stovetop potpourri instead. Just cut your favorite fruit into
large chunks (e.g., apples, citrus), add a handful of whole herbs and spices (e.g.,
cinnamon sticks, cloves, rosemary) and add water so you can keep it simmering on
the stove to release its aroma.

 Use vinegar — Vinegar can easily replace plenty of more expensive and energy
intensive household cleaning items. Examples include: ant deterrent, sticker
remover, drain opener, rust dissolver, and glass/plastic/floor cleaner!

 DIY reusable dryer sheets — Cut up old sweatshirts, t-shirts or other medium-
weight knit fabric. Soak them in a solution with vinegar, essential oils and hair
conditioner in a jar with an air-tight lid until use. They not only remove a piece of
worn out clothing out of the landfill cycle, these dryer sheets save you money, since
they can be used over and over again.

126 SW 148th Street, Suite C100-170 NON-PROFIT ORG
Burien, WA 98166 U.S. POSTAGE PAID

Inside this Issue: SEATTLE, WA
PERMIT NO. 2063
 A student of life-long learning: Kim Ha
 Climate change’s evil twin
 A holistically health experience at

Hot Feet Fitness

 Cleaning with the Earth in mind

Upcoming Events: Please register online at EnvironmentalScienceCenter.org

TIDE POOLS FOR TOTS PUGET SOUND’S GEODUCKS OPEN HOUSE SATURDAYS
Free-Registration Required Free-Registration Required Saturdays Jul-Aug
Select Wednesdays 10:30-11:30 May-Jul May 17 6—7 pm at ESC 11 am—3 pm at ESC
May 16, June 13, June 27, July 11, July 25
Have you noticed boats harvesting Learn about the wildlife and plants of
Spend time with your little one exploring the geoducks near Seahurst Park? Join us for a Seahurst Park and ways you can help them
beach alongside ESC naturalists! Meet at lecture with Dr. Henry Carson from the from ESC naturalists. Guided walks, hands-
ESC for stories & songs about local marine Washington Department of Fish and Wild- on activities, exhibits and arts and crafts are
life before discovering the wonders of tide life to discuss their ecology, their manage- all ways ESC is sharing the wonders of our
pools. (For ages 2-4, but friends and family ment by the state and treaty tribes, and the watershed for the City of Burien.
members are welcome). value the fishery provides to Washington.

Please Recycle