Riverways Rural & Tribal Programs
Riverways offers UW students opportunities to learn alongside rural and Tribal school communities through mentorship, college-access programming, STEAM outreach, and Alternative Spring Break.
Why Get Involved
- Learn alongside rural and Tribal communities across Washington.
- Build authentic relationships with community partners, educators, and K-12 students.
- Develop experience in mentorship, teaching, teamwork, and community engagement.
- Help increase K-12 students’ awareness of and interest in college and STEM pathways.
- Join opportunities ranging from short-term outreach events to quarter-long and year-long programs.
Programs
Our opportunities range from short-term volunteer events to sustained, academic-year mentorship roles. Explore the options below to find the level of commitment that is right for you.
STEAM Outreach Events
Gain hands-on experience supporting short-term STEAM learning opportunities with K-12 students at partner schools, community organizations, and the UW Seattle campus. This program is especially well suited for UW students who are new to STEAM outreach or community engagement.
Participants:
- Receive training from Riverways staff to prepare for working with K–12 students and community partners.
- Work alongside fellow UW student volunteers to co-facilitate hands-on STEAM activities during school site visits, community events, and UW campus visits.
- Develop experience that can help prepare you to apply for longer-term Riverways opportunities that offer compensation or education awards, including ASB, CASE, and Riverways Guides.
Compensation: None; this is a volunteer opportunity.
Application: No application required. Sign up for individual events as opportunities are announced.
Alternative Spring Break (ASB)
Work with a team of UW students to develop and co-teach educational activities at a rural or Tribal partner school during UW’s spring break.
Participants:
- Enroll in an EDUC 401 seminar to prepare for the experience.
- Work with your team and partner educator to develop culturally relevant & sustaining educational activities for your assigned partner school.
- Travel to a rural or Tribal community and co-teach during the UW spring break week (typically Sunday to Friday).
Credit & Compensation: ASB Mentors receive course credit through EDUC 401. ASB Team Leaders receive an AmeriCorps education award.
Application: Required.
Culture And Science Exchange (CASE)
Join a year-long mentorship team that partners with a rural Tribal community to develop and facilitate culturally relevant and sustaining STEM learning experiences.
Participants:
- Build authentic relationships with community partners, educators, and K-12 students while learning from and alongside them.
- Work with your team and partner educators to develop STEM activities grounded in students’ communities, cultures, interests, and funds of knowledge.
- Co-teach those STEM activities through site visits, UW campus visits, and Alternative Spring Break.
- Support year-long programming that may include an after-school STEM club and/or mentoring a cohort of high school student interns.
Compensation: CASE Mentors receive a quarterly stipend and an AmeriCorps education award. Graduate Team Leaders for CASE-Quileute and CASE-Makah receive partial graduate assistantship support.
Application: Required.
Riverways Guides
Serve in an academic-year position mentoring 5th-12th grade students and providing college & career access workshops to Tribal school communities.
Participants:
- Build authentic relationships with community partners, educators, and students while learning from and alongside them.
- Work with fellow undergraduate Guides and a Graduate Staff Assistant to plan and facilitate college-access programming.
- Mentor students during school site visits and UW campus visits.
- Share your college experiences and help students explore educational and career pathways connected to their goals and home communities.
Compensation: Riverways Guides are paid hourly at Seattle’s minimum wage.
Application: Required.
Stay Connected
Join the Riverways student opportunities mailing list to receive application announcements, upcoming STEAM Outreach Event sign-ups, and other ways to get involved.
JOIN THE RIVERWAYS MAILING LIST
Questions?
Not sure which Riverways opportunity is the best fit? Contact our team for more information.
