Environmental activisim and youth education
June 22, 2021
Sheila was engaged in the West Seattle environmental activism community, both through her work and as a volunteer. She was known as a great mentor and courageous leader of teams.
As Education Program Supervisor at Camp Long for 17 years, she was responsible for
initiating the partnership with 4H that resulted in the building of the Challenge course at Camp Long. She was active in race and social justice issues at the City, and committed to getting kids of all backgrounds to appreciate and experience the natural world. She helped create the Leadership in Equity and Environmental Facilitation (LEEF) program for developing BIPOC youth leadership in environmental education. The program has recently been expanded so that youth leaders will be employed to lead environmental programming for the Parks Department. Prior to working for the Seattle Parks and Recreation Department, Sheila’s managed education programs for Earthcorps.
As a volunteer, she was a Board member for the Common Acre, a nonprofit involved in community agriculture habitat restoration and bee keeping projects, and was a volunteer in the development of the Longfellow Creek Legacy Trail, and in open space preservation in Delridge.
Sheila received the news that her third bout with cancer was terminal near the end of 2020. She decided to leave a legacy by raising funds for the construction of a gateway at the eastern entrance of Camp Long, designed to match the main entrance on Dawson Street. Nearly 80 donors contributed over $22,000, and the new gateway will be installed later this year. Remembrances for Sheila can be made to the Gateway Project c/o Delridge Neighborhoods Development Association. Donations will support trail and habitat restoration in Camp Long and the Longfellow Creek Watershed.
As Education Program Supervisor at Camp Long for 17 years, she was responsible for
initiating the partnership with 4H that resulted in the building of the Challenge course at Camp Long. She was active in race and social justice issues at the City, and committed to getting kids of all backgrounds to appreciate and experience the natural world. She helped create the Leadership in Equity and Environmental Facilitation (LEEF) program for developing BIPOC youth leadership in environmental education. The program has recently been expanded so that youth leaders will be employed to lead environmental programming for the Parks Department. Prior to working for the Seattle Parks and Recreation Department, Sheila’s managed education programs for Earthcorps.
As a volunteer, she was a Board member for the Common Acre, a nonprofit involved in community agriculture habitat restoration and bee keeping projects, and was a volunteer in the development of the Longfellow Creek Legacy Trail, and in open space preservation in Delridge.
Sheila received the news that her third bout with cancer was terminal near the end of 2020. She decided to leave a legacy by raising funds for the construction of a gateway at the eastern entrance of Camp Long, designed to match the main entrance on Dawson Street. Nearly 80 donors contributed over $22,000, and the new gateway will be installed later this year. Remembrances for Sheila can be made to the Gateway Project c/o Delridge Neighborhoods Development Association. Donations will support trail and habitat restoration in Camp Long and the Longfellow Creek Watershed.