Wahkiakum School District awarded $240,560 state grant

Wahkiakum School District is proud to announce the receipt of a $240,560 grant from the Washington State Capital Budget for the Wahkiakum Community Learning Center Project. This funding, secured through a grant written by CTE Director Mr. Kyle Hurley, will turn district land at 500 South 3rd Street in Cathlamet into a vibrant, hands-on learning campus and community hub. The heart of the project is a unique collaboration with the Chinook Tribe, whose ancestral lands include the site of the future Learning Center. For Mr. Hurley, recognizing and honoring this heritage is personal and overdue.

“I’ve lived here for 20 years and, besides a small sign downtown, there’s been little visible acknowledgment of the Chinook’s history,” said Hurley. “I grew up with Chinook friends, but outside Washington State history class, we rarely talked about it. This project is about raising awareness for the Chinooks here and building a true partnership.”

Hurley reached out to Tony Johnson, chairman of the Chinook Tribe, to explore ways the district and tribe could work together. Their shared vision includes educational signs and interactive learning circles along new trails that will share the Chinook Tribe’s history, contributions, and land stewardship practices. “By working with the Chinook Tribe, we’re embedding cultural learning and indigenous perspectives into every aspect of the project,” said Hurley. “This is about honoring the land’s story and its first stewards.”

The Community Learning Center is designed to give Wahkiakum’s CTE and FFA students meaningful, real-world opportunities. Students will design and build accessible nature trails and outdoor classrooms, using skills from engineering to heavy equipment operation. With guidance from the Chinook Tribe, they’ll restore native vegetation and learn about indigenous land management, using plants grown in the district’s greenhouse. The project incorporates outdoor educational boards and “learning circles,” modeled after successful tribal partnerships elsewhere, “so our students and the community can learn how the Chinooks survived and how native vegetation is tied to their culture,” said Hurley, who is proud that students have been part of the design process from the beginning. “My engineering class drew up the learning center on Tinkercad, created scaled drawings, and will work with local contractors to bring the vision to life. This isn’t just about building trails and a building; it’s about giving students ownership and practical skills they’ll use for a lifetime.”

Thanks to an earlier equipment grant, students now have the tools and training to help build and maintain these features, transforming past efforts of “just manual labor” into sustainable, skill-based work. This is an outdoor classroom where learning comes alive—linking biology, environmental science, agriculture, and local history in a single, immersive setting.

“We’ve wanted to use our farm forest for outdoor learning for over a decade,” said Hurley. “Now, with the right equipment and partnerships, students will be able to maintain trails, build new features, and connect their learning to the place they call home.”

The center will be a safe, accessible space for recreation, cultural enrichment, and community gatherings. “Why don’t we build a walking trail where people can see what our kids are doing, tie in all the agriculture classes, and make it happen,” asked Hurley. “It’s a chance for kids and adults to get outdoors, disconnect from screens, and reconnect with each other and this land.”

This collaboration is a step toward restorative justice and mutual respect. By integrating Chinook voices and knowledge into the design and interpretation of the site, the district is helping to preserve and honor the tribe’s legacy for future generations. Students are at the heart of the center’s creation and ongoing programs. “They’ll be the ones operating equipment, building and maintaining trails, and learning directly from Chinook partners how to care for and interpret the land,” said Hurley. “The heavy equipment program will give them industry-ready skills they can use beyond high school.”

The Wahkiakum Community Learning Center will be more than just a building; it will be a living, learning landscape that celebrates local culture, natural beauty, and the power of partnership. The project aligns with the district’s vision to provide equitable access to outdoor learning while fostering meaningful relationships across the community. Hurley is deeply grateful to the state capital budget, local representatives, and community supporters. “Outdoor learning is so important, and it doesn’t just impact our students,” he said. “It has the chance to impact the whole community and tie us all to the shared history of this land.”

Construction will begin soon, with students and community members invited to participate every step of the way. “We have an advisory board, but we hope to see families, local organizations, and anyone interested get involved,” said Hurley. “There are many ways to support, from volunteering to sharing community history to simply coming out and enjoying the trails.”

Stay tuned for updates and opportunities to get involved as we work together to create a legacy of education, conservation, and community connection, rooted in respect for the land and its first people.