IslandWood is a 255-acre outdoor education center on Bainbridge Island designed to provide exceptional learning experiences and to inspire lifelong environmental and community stewardship. Its educational programs use the natural and cultural environment as a context for learning, serving Puget Sound area fourth, fifth and sixth grade students and their teachers. IslandWood also offers a residential program for graduate students in partnership with the University of Washington. IslandWood's buildings are sustainably designed and the campus has a focus on water conservation, composting, recycling, and harnessing alternative energy sources.
Wong was honored for his dedication to creating powerful learning experiences for students, and for connecting his students' education to the real world while inspiring them toward community and environmental stewardship.
At Hawthorne Elementary, Wong has helped his students build an outdoor learning classroom, organize the creation of a school garden with the local Rotary Club and initiate a Hawthorne Goes Green campaign including worm bins for recycling food waste.
Each year the educator selected for the Patsy Collins Award receives a $5,000 personal cash gift and $2,500 to donate to a school or charity of their choice. Wong chose the Friends of Hawthorne as the recipient of the non-profit portion of the award in order to enhance the arts program in Hawthorne classrooms.
The Patsy Collins Award was presented at the graduation ceremony for IslandWood's graduate students in outdoor education on Bainbridge Island.
Patsy Collins lived in Seattle from 1920 until her death in 2003. She was a visionary who was actively engaged in broad applications of "citizenship" by working with others toward a common cause. She believed that to get anything important accomplished in our world, you need to mobilize your friends and then give generously from the heart.
When she felt there was something needed for the greater community, in addition to contributing her own wealth, Collins focused on gathering wide support of the public and business sector. Her legacy lives on with her many contributions to the Seattle region.
Collins was one of the first board members of IslandWood when it was founded in 2001.[[In-content Ad]]