Hello, my name is Rory and I am an environmental educator here in Washington State. I have lived in and around the Salish Sea for the entirety of my life and am honored to call this place my home. A little info about me before getting into my goals as an educator are that I am an avid climber, sculptor, and love to play roleplaying games such as dungeons and dragons. I am thankful for all my friends and family who have helped support me in being the educator I am today.
My Education
Islandwood Graduate Program – 2025-2026
Some careful deliberation after my undergraduate education, I decided to attend UW’s Islandwood Graduate Program. Here I am learning how to be a better environmental educator through different theories embedded in JEDI educational principles, culturally sustaining pedagogy, and interpretive power (Just to name a few). I am learning how to help students connect to place through different environmental science lessons and stories relevant to their socio-cultural experiences in 2026.
Undergraduate Education – WWU 2021
In 2021 I decided to attend Western Washington University after realizing I wanted to help the lands and waters of where I was born. During my time there I acquired a degree in Recreation Management and Leadership and minors in Anthropology, Environmental Studies, and Psychology. The professors I had in my department and in my other studies were some of the best guides I could have asked for and have influenced me to continue striving to make positive changes within our community through outdoor education, environmental preservation, and careful intuition of what makes us human.
Western Washington University Archaeological Field School/ x̌ʷiq̓ʷix̌ʷalqʷuʔ – 2022
I took part in the 2022 Blue Water project run between WWU and the Stillaguamish Tribes Cultural Department. This project was created as a collaboration to provide the Stillaguamish with student labor to help answer questions regarding their history while providing students with CRM techniques like shovel tests, mapping, 1x2m excavations, and report writing. The project focused on Tribal relationships and an indigenized archaeological perspective that has made me incorporate culture into all of my work going forward.
Sustainability Pathways – Sustainability Youth Corps Lead 2023
As an intern for Sustainability Pathways, Methow Valley School District, and Americorps I created a comprehensive report and future materials for a youth corps. This incorporated detailed report writing in which I examined the amount of community and environmental work we engaged with and suggestions for optimizing it in the future. Researched methods of risk management, environmental knowledge, and outdoor education.
Extracurriculars – 2021-2024
I have put myself in many different leadership positions over the course of my college education and have had the opportunity to learn from some other amazing educators. The gallery above showcases some of these from my time leading Western Washington University’s climbing club trips (You can spot me carrying the rope.) and advocacy work with Students for Climate Action Club.
Current Recommended Readings (Updated 3/11/26)
Name of the Wind – Patrick Rothfuss
This is just one my favorite fantasy novels and the writing flows like the calmest river.
Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy – Douglas Adams
One of the first books that I remember to make me actively laugh out loud.
Wizard of Earthsea – Ursula K. Le Guin.
Foundational book for my interest in fantasy literature and the entire series is one of great importance to me.
Contact – Carl Sagan
I have vivid memories associated with this story from reading it and also watching the movie with my mom when I was young. Changed my perceptions about the universe early on.
Rory Peterson 