For muddy fun, explore the forests, marshes, swamps and bogs of the 320-acre Mercer Slough Nature Park . Mercer Slough Environmental Education Program, in partnership with Bellevue Parks and Community Services, welcomes more than 12,000 school children and adults per year to investigate wetland creatures and ecology. Campers explore the great Northwest with canoeing, and hiking in one of eight Summer Day Camps . Girl Scouts, Boy Scouts and other interested groups can work toward nature-related badges in one of 16 different areas in Scouting Outings . Kids aged 5 and up can even celebrate their B'earthday at the Slough with an environmental celebration just for them.
Study habitats through hands-on activities, and explore pond samples for signs of life.
Take soil samples and examine the recyclers that live in them. Explore how a wetland ecosystem works. Discover the different jobs of wetland species and how they are vital to wetlands and humans. Identify wetland plants, create your own poem, test water quality and participate in a mock town meeting. High School students work as paid or volunteer interns as part of the Lake Washington Watershed Internship Program .