- Cougar, WA
Gov. Jay Inslee hiked Johnston Ridge near Mount St Helens Thursday with educational television star Bill Nye to discuss the benefits of expanding outdoor education opportunities for students.
The two discussed a proposed expansion of the Mount St. Helens Institute's Science and Learning Center. The Mount St. Helens Institute is a private nonprofit operating under a permit from the U.S. Forest Service. Nye is a board member for the institute.
The governor's budget included -- and the Legislature approved -- funds to study the expansion and benefits of outdoor schooling in Washington state.
"The next generation needs to be ready to adapt to climate change and outdoor education is essential for us to prepare for what needs to be done," Inslee said.
Inslee later declared Nye the "Washingtonian of the Day." Nye is a longtime Washingtonian who first reached fame through his public broadcast show "Bill Nye The Science Guy", which was produced and largely filmed in the state of Washington.