Hello! My name is Adeline Cruise. I am extremely excited to be the new AmeriCorps Environmental Educator with the Nisqually River Education Project for the 2026 – 2027 school year. This June I graduated from The Evergreen State College with my Bachelor’s degree. My undergraduate studies focused on the interdisciplinary connections of environmental studies and Native American studies. Growing up in Southeast Alaska as an enrolled member of the Tlingit and Haida Indian Tribes of Alaska, I have grown up with a deep care for environmental stewardship and cultural revitalization. I believe that K-12 public education on these matters is critical for developing students’ belonging to place and environmental care. I also believe that every child deserves meaningful experiences in nature, something that many parents understandably don’t have the time or experience to provide.
In my Junior year of college, I had the amazing opportunity to be the Evergreen intern for the Nisqually River Education Project through the Center for Climate Action and Sustainability. This internship opportunity lined up perfectly with the year-long program I was in, titled Native Pedagogy in Education and Social Work. The internship was an excellent opportunity to integrate my new knowledge in educational pedagogy with my former learnings in environmental sciences while gaining important experience for my future and familiarizing myself with NREP programming for this AmeriCorps position.
As an AmeriCorps member this year, I am beyond ecstatic to foster rich hands-on experiences for students through NREP’s programming. Growing a relationship with and learning about our local watersheds is a deeply needed experience for our students’ futures. I am so grateful to be welcomed into the Nisqually Watershed community and am stoked for my future adventures with the Nisqually River Education Project!
Feel free to contact me with any questions at adeline@nisquallyriver.org
