The Adopt A Stream Foundation (AASF) is a 501 © 3 nonprofit organization whose mission is to teach people to be stewards of their watersheds. For those who don't know, a watershed is the area of land surrounding a body of water, that drains into it. We carry out our mission by providing stream and wetland restoration, technical assistance, and environmental education materials, resources, and classes to our community. 

The Northwest Stream Center (NWSC) is an environmental learning facility that serves as the headquarters of AASF. Onsite we have a fully accessible interpretive nature trail with an elevated boardwalk, a trout stream exhibit with aquarium viewing windows, the Nature Store, and the Natural Resources Research Library. It is a great place to learn, teach, and explore! 

The interpretive nature trail is designed to be self-guided, however we do offer scheduled, guided tours for $10/person for 10-20 people at a time. We also host volunteer events throughout the year at our restoration sites and at the Northwest Stream Center, and there are always opportunities to get involved! We work with various schools, businesses, and community groups to coordinate private volunteer events, tours, and field trips as well.

We offer facility rentals for our auditorium (Chinook Room--150 people), our classroom (Coho Room--30 people), and our Natural Resources Library (10 people). We have hosted weddings, receptions, birthday parties, memorials, public forums, book clubs, and various other events.

Some of our Streamkeeper Academy environmental education events include classes on cougars, beavers, bats, orcas, and turkey vultures, as well as classes on converting your lawn into a native plant landscape and how to design and install rain gardens. 

In 2023, AASF launched the Sustainable Infrastructure Campaign with the goal of raising $1.5 million to evolve the NWSC into a Sustainable Ecosystem Lab where people will learn about sustainable technologies and practices. Through education and resources people will leave empowered to take actions to combat climate change and improve the health of their watersheds. At the NWSC’s Ecosystem Lab people will see permeable walkways, rain barrels and cisterns in action; learn how to calculate the number of solar panels needed to power their homes or businesses; understand the costs and benefits of transitioning to energy star appliances; and learn how to convert lawns into native plant landscapes and design and install rain gardens, plus much more! Learn more by visiting www.streamkeeper.org, calling (425) 316-8592, emailing aasf@streamkeeper.org, or visiting the NWSC. 

So what are you waiting for? Visit the Northwest Stream Center and join our community in making a difference in our watershed and for our planet! 

Location: McCollum Park in Everett/Mill Creek, 600 128th Street SE, Everett, WA 98208 

Hours: The facility is open year-round, Tuesdays - Saturdays, 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. (the last admission of the day to the nature trail is at 3 p.m.) 

Rates:  Adults: $7, Seniors: $6, Students: $5, EBT cardholders: $3, children 5 and under are free. These daily admission rates directly support our mission.  

We also offer annual memberships that provide unlimited admission to the NWSC during open hours, as well as a 10% discount in the Nature Store and discounted admission rates to our environmental education classes and events. A one-person membership is $20/year, two person memberships are $40/year, and 4 person memberships are $60/year.