Who We Are
The Education and Outreach Program is dedicated to helping protect the health of
Thurston County residents in ways that are affected by their environment. In a typical year, we carry out programs on:
- toxic materials in the home and yard
- septic systems
- wells and drinking water
- watershed protection
We offer presentations and guest speakers on a variety of topics, school programs, and displays (see below for descriptions). We also provide numerous
publications, visit the Environmental Materials webpage for a list.
Speaking Presentations
The Education and Outreach Program is available for presentations to your workgroup or community group. Talks can be tailored to your timeframe and audience.
The following is a sampling of topics we offer:
- Protect Kids from Toxins — Children have more exposure and are more sensitive to common toxins such as solvents, pesticides, and heavy
metals found around our homes and yards. Learn basic, low-cost steps you can take to protect children from toxins, so they can reach their fullest potential.
Presentations can be geared to childcare staff (Stars credit is available) or parents. Handouts such as lead-test swabs, Mr. Yuk stickers, and refrigerator wipe-off message boards are included.
- Common Sense Gardening — How to make your garden thrive without using chemical products; how to use integrated pest
management to control weeds and pests in your yard, garden, and lawn. Handouts include Common Sense Gardening guides.
- Household Hazardous Waste 101 — How to read labels and choose safer products for your
household. Can include making a multi-purpose “green” cleaner to bring home.
Displays
The following displays are available for loan at your public place, school setting, or retail area. We can also staff these displays at educational events.
Click on the display names to see a photo:
School Programs
Are You Bugged by Bugs? Lending Tub — grades K-3
Meet "Lucy the Ladybug" and her friends in a puppet show that explains the important role insects play in our environment. Learn about these beneficial insects and how they help keep our yards and gardens healthy and beautiful.
Program includes:
- Make your own ladybug craft
- Stories and a sing-a-long
To help prepare your students for this presentation, the video "Bugs Don’t Bug Us" is available with the tub. The video introduces the concept that many
insects really are our friends. The video is geared for pre-school aged kids, but the craft and puppet show have been popular up to grade 5.
Get Out of My Hair: Toxins in Personal Care — grades 6-12
Teens are a primary target for sale of personal care products – yet some ingredients used to make cosmetics,
lotion, deodorant, shampoo, and hair dye have been linked to cancer and may cause reproductive and environmental harm.
Join us for a 55 or 75-minute presentation on toxins in personal care products and alternatives teens can
choose to protect themselves. We’ll learn about health concerns, how to read labels, helpful websites, and safer alternatives. The students will make an
all-natural lip balm to take home, to remind them they can keep looking and smelling good without toxic
products! We request groups of 10 to 30 students and are happy to schedule multiple presentations to accommodate everyone.
Hazards on the Homefront — grades 6-12
Learn about hazards of common household products to people and the environment. This 55-minute class teaches students how to read product labels for toxicity levels
and proper use, storage, and disposal. A fast-paced bingo game teaches students about alternative products and an experiment comparing cleaners lets students
determine first-hand whether less-toxic products are effective! We request groups of 10 to 30 students and are happy to schedule multiple presentations to accommodate everyone.
Budd Inlet Treatment
Plant Tours — grades 6-12
 The
LOTT wastewater treatment plant offers tours where students learn where wastewater goes, how the treatment
process uses bacteria to help clean water, what reclaimed water is, and how students can help by conserving water.
This tour reinforces the Thurston County classes (above) by making the connection between what students
put down the drain and what ends up in Puget Sound. Tours are 90 minutes long. For a limited number of classes, bus and teacher costs may be reimbursed.
Used Oil Recycling — grades 9-12
Invite a speaker to come into your classroom and discuss ideas for environmentally-friendly driving. Recycling used motor oil is one way that
drivers can maintain their cars, as well as protect the environment. Information on transportation alternatives, as well as carpooling, trip reduction, and
hazardous materials disposal is presented in an interactive 35-minute presentation. Key chains and bumper stickers are provided.
Contact Us
We are available to talk with you Monday through Friday from 8 am to 5 pm. Our phone number is 360-867-2674 (TDD for the hearing impaired is 360-867-2603).
Contact us by email with your comments, questions, or requests.
We are located at the Thurston County Public
Health and Social Services Department:
412 Lilly Rd. NE
Olympia, WA 98506-5132
map/driving directions [PDF]
Our mailing address is:
Thurston County Environmental Health
412 Lilly Rd. NE
Olympia, WA 98506-5132
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