Grays Harbor Spotlights

One of the things we pride ourselves in at the Foundation is being a reliable resource for organizations in our community. Coastal Interpretive Center, a nonprofit organization in Ocean Shores that aims to educate the public about the natural and cultural history of Washington’s Pacific Coast and inspire the joy and wonder of nature, recently came to us with a problem.

In 2025, Coastal Interpretive Center partnered with the US Fish and Wildlife Service for the first time to help implement the annual shorebird education program which visits students 7 times indoors and then brings them on a field trip to the national wildlife refuge in Hoquiam after the annual shorebird festival.

Jacob Baker, Executive Director of CIC said: "It was a bigger year than ever (836 students from across the county participated) that got thrown for a loop at the end by changing federal funding and program restrictions. With cuts to the USFWS budget and elimination of the Americorps program, we’re currently scrambling with refuge staff to not just build on the previously successful year, but to save the entire 20 year old program."

In order to begin serving 3-5th graders in the Fall 2025 they began reaching out to any potential funders to see if they could help bridge the gap of lost funding. They were able to raise $10,000 from other funders and then the Grays Harbor Community Foundation stepped in to secure the necessary $23,000 in funding to make sure the program can reach students throughout our county in the upcoming school year.

Jacob said of the grant: "Thank you! I spoke with US Fish & Wildlife to let them know that we'll be able to continue and they were as thrilled as we are."

We look forward to following the program's continued success!